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Biden remains sidelined by COVID after dropping out of presidential race

Pres. Biden was scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, but Vice President Kamala Harris will now fill in as the president continues to recover.
File photo of President Joe Biden coughing during an event.
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A day after withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race, President Joe Biden remains at his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he is still recovering from COVID-19.

The president has been isolating there since being diagnosed with the virus last Wednesday during a campaign event in Nevada. On Monday, the White House physician to the president gave an update on his recovery.

"President Biden completed his tenth dose of PAXLOVID this morning," Kevin O'Connor said in a memo to press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. "His symptoms have almost resolved completely. His pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature remain absolutely normal. His oxygen saturation continues to be excellent on room air. His lungs remain clear. The President continues to perform all of his presidential duties."

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President Biden spent Sunday on the phone with lawmakers when his letter announcing his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race took the political world by storm. The president said he plans to address the nation sometime this week.

Meanwhile, it's a big week in Washington D.C. as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make his first trip to the nation's capital in four years, as he is scheduled to address Congress Wednesday regarding his country's ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. It will mark Netanyahu's fourth address to Congress — more than any other world leader — and will be his first international trip since the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas.

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Before being sidelined by COVID, President Biden was scheduled to meet with the Israeli prime minister Monday at the White House. Plans have now shifted and Netanyahu is expected to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris instead. Prior to departing Israel for the U.S., Netanyahu commented on President Biden's decision to endorse Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Regardless of who the American people choose as their next president, Israel remains America's indispensable and strong ally in the Middle East," he told reporters. "... At this time of war and uncertainty, it's important that Israel's enemies know that America and Israel stand together today, tomorrow, and always."