White House officials knew that it was just a matter of time before President Joe Biden contracted COVID-19, according to chief of staff Ron Klain.
“We all knew there would come a time when by being out there and doing his job as president, which means engaging with the public and engaging with constituents, engaging with members of the House and all these people, that sooner or later, like a lot of Americans, he would get COVID,” Klain told MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace on Thursday.
BIDEN TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
“He has the benefit of two vaccines and two boosters, and he’s been publicly advocating for every American to take the benefit of our free vaccination or free booster program,” he added.
Despite his diagnosis, Biden is “busy at work, feeling very well, and doing his job,” Klain stressed, noting that Biden had a “sniffly nose.” The chief of staff also touted the availability of treatments such as Paxlovid that will help the president get through the illness.
Biden tested positive for the virus as part of his typical testing cadence, the White House revealed on Thursday.
A photo was posted to Biden’s Twitter account showing the president working in an apparent attempt to assuage concerns about the 79-year-old’s health following his diagnosis. He also posted a video.
Folks, I’m doing great. Thanks for your concern. Just called Senator Casey, Congressman Cartwright, and Mayor Cognetti (and my Scranton cousins!) to send my regrets for missing our event today.
Keeping busy! pic.twitter.com/uf7AsOg571
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 21, 2022
An update from me: pic.twitter.com/L2oCR0uUTu
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 21, 2022
Officials are monitoring Biden’s contacts to see if any of them test positive, Klain said, noting that he himself was a close contact.
“No, we don’t know where he got it. But we’ve been contacting the people he has had contact with in the past few days,” Klain said. “I’d make sure they’re aware that they were exposed.”
Klain’s remarks echoed a similar sentiment from the White House press secretary.
“I don’t think that matters,” Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday when asked how Biden contracted COVID-19. “I think what matters is we [are] prepared for this moment.”
Biden had delivered a speech on climate change in Massachusetts on Wednesday.
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The White House has deemed Vice President Kamala Harris a close contact and has stated that Biden is isolating in the White House in compliance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Consistent with CDC guidelines, he will isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time,” Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday. “He has been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone this morning and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House this morning via phone and Zoom from the residence.”
