Joe Biden makes first public appearance after absence sparks conspiracy theories

PTC News Desk: For the first time since withdrawing from the presidential contest and testing positive for COVID-19, US President Joe Biden was spotted in public. Social media users began spreading rumors about the 81-year-old leader's declining health when he disappeared. Some even went so far as to say he was in "hospice care" and "unlikely to survive the night". "Where's Joe" shot to prominence on X worldwide following the US President's five-day public retreat to his Delaware home as he recovered from COVID-19.

???? UPDATE: President Biden just boarded Air Force One and is on his way back to the White House. pic.twitter.com/k2wNDleGa3

— Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) July 23, 2024

The Democratic leader returned to the White House on Wednesday, following the announcement from his physicians that his COVID-19 symptoms had subsided and that a quick antigen test had revealed he was COVID-19 negative. "I feel good," he declared. As reporters yelled questions at the US President, he boarded an aircraft to the White House, asking him how he felt, why he had stepped out of the campaign, and if his deputy, Vice President Kamala Harris, could defeat Republican nominee Donald Trump. Biden simply offered a brief thumbs up without answering any of the questions. Being back at the White House is wonderful. I returned to the Oval Office this afternoon and had my daily intelligence briefing with my national security staff. The greatest honor of my life remains to be serving as your Commander-in-Chief," he wrote on X. After months of remaining resolute and certain that he would not resign from the presidential contest despite growing demand from his party to move aside, the US President abruptly announced his withdrawal from the race while under quarantine. He declared on social media that he will "focus all his energies on his duties as president for the remainder of his term" and decline the Democratic nomination. In order to face competitor Donald Trump in the elections later this year, Obama endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him as the Democratic nominee. The president also declared that he will address the country on Friday morning, most likely to give an explanation for his decision to drop out of the presidential contest. "I will address the nation from the Oval Office tomorrow evening at 8 PM ET on what lies ahead, and how I will finish the job for the American people," he wrote in a post on X.

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- With inputs from agencies