President Joe Biden’s Tuesday remarks at a signing ceremony for the CHIPS and Science Act were punctuated by extremely heavy, repeated coughing.
The speech marked Biden’s second public appearance since returning to normal work following a two-week COVID-19 isolation. The president’s physician, Kevin O’Connor, informed reporters that Biden had developed a “loose cough” during his rebound infection, although the symptoms dissipated throughout the week.
Biden still struggling with a bad cough. Throat drops and water not helping. pic.twitter.com/hI11DaN6wH
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) August 9, 2022
BIDEN HEADS TO DELAWARE AFTER TWO-WEEK COVID-19 BOUT
The cough persisted throughout Biden’s remarks and eventually forced him to blow his nose and repeatedly take sips of water from a glass at the podium.
“Excuse me,” the president said during one such outburst. “I’m going to take another sip of water.”
Biden and first lady Jill Biden traveled to their home in Delaware over the weekend after the president posted consecutive negative tests in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The pair then visited Kentucky on Monday to survey damage inflicted by historic flooding in the eastern part of the state. Biden did not appear to be suffering from a cough at any point during his Monday trip.
The White House did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s requests for comment by press time but later confirmed Biden tested negative for COVID-19 Monday night and Tuesday morning.
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You can watch Biden’s remarks in full below.
