Mainstream media hosts and commentators claimed on Wednesday that President Biden’s recovery from COVID-19 would be “exactly the same” as former President Donald Trump surviving an assassination attempt. This comparison emerged after the White House announced that Biden, 81, had been diagnosed with COVID and was experiencing “mild symptoms.”
Reporting from the RNC convention, MSNBC hosts Joy Reid and Jen Psaki argued that Biden’s potential recovery from COVID-19 should be viewed as a similar demonstration of “strength” to Trump’s survival of an assassination attempt on Saturday.
“These two men are both elderly,” said Reid, host of The ReidOut. “Donald Trump, an elderly man, survived an active shooter situation and bounced back immediately, which has been portrayed as a sign of strength in the media.
“This current President of the United States is 81 years old and has COVID. If he recovers in a few days, doesn’t that convey the same thing? That he’s strong enough – even older than Trump – to overcome something that used to be fatal for people his age. If he recovers and resumes his duties, isn’t that exactly the same?” Reid asked Psaki, Biden’s former White House press secretary.
“It should!” Psaki replied.
This is not the first time President Biden has been diagnosed with the virus; he has survived it before. Biden has stated that he “feels good” following his recent diagnosis. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also confirmed that Biden’s symptoms are “mild.”
CNN’s Van Jones, a Democratic strategist who has been critical of President Biden since his poor debate performance, commented: “A bullet couldn’t stop Trump. A virus just stopped Biden.”
These comments follow widespread calls from Democratic donors and lawmakers for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, as the Democratic Party no longer sees a viable path to success in November with Biden as the nominee. Biden’s poor debate performance and President Trump’s triumphant return to the campaign trail after surviving an assassination attempt have thrown the DNC into a state of panic.