Joe Biden‘s campaign has dropped their negative ads denouncing Donald Trump following the president’s coronavirus diagnosis.
The Democratic nominee is plowing ahead with his campaign after testing negative twice for the virus on Friday, making a stop in battleground state Michigan.
The news came as Biden espoused a message of unity, declaring in his speech from Grand Rapids that this cannot be a ‘partisan moment’ and that Americans must ‘come together as a nation’.
It’s not clear how long the negative ads will be down. The decision came Friday afternoon in consultation with the former vice president and top advisors, as per CBS News.
Joe Biden’s campaign has dropped their negative ads denouncing Donald Trump following the president’s coronavirus diagnosis. Biden pictured wearing a mask as he made a campaign stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan Friday
Biden espoused a message of unity, declaring in his speech from Grand Rapids that this cannot be a ‘partisan moment’ and that Americans must ‘come together as a nation’
It’s not clear how long the negative ads will be down. The decision came Friday afternoon in consultation with the former vice president and top advisors. A view of a Biden campaign ad bashing Trump above
Biden offered sympathy to Trump following his COVID-19 diagnosis saying: ‘Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery. We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family.’
Early Friday just before 1am, Trump, 74, announced that he and Melania, 50, tested positive for COVID-19 after top aide Hope Hicks tested positive for the contagious virus.
By Friday evening the president was flown to Walter Reed hospital for a several days long stay to undergo treatment ‘out of an abundance of caution’ after reporting symptoms of fever, cough and congestion. He also reportedly was having ‘trouble breathing’.
The Trump campaign, on the other hand, said it will not reciprocate the move and will continue to air a slew of negative ads attacking Biden and ‘the radical left’.
However, pro-Biden Super PAC Priorities USA has been airing several ads against the president and his COVID-19 response since the summer, targeting battleground states, with no intention of stopping.
Biden offered sympathy to Trump following his COVID-19 diagnosis saying: ‘Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery. We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family
Biden tested twice for COVID-19 on Friday after sharing the debate stage with Trump on Tuesday, and proved negative
Guests and reporters sit inside circles that enforce social distancing while listening to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speak at the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 951 while campaigning in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Biden has taken a low-key approach in his in-person campaigning hosting small, socially distanced events while adhering to state and local public health recommendations regarding masks. He only recently began in-person canvassing after hosting mostly virtual events due to the pandemic.
Communications Director Josh Schwerin said: ‘We’re taking stock of the situation and hoping for a swift recovery for the President and First Lady. We have no plans to pull back on our ongoing efforts to hold the President accountable for his failures on the pandemic.’
Biden has taken a low-key approach in his in-person campaigning hosting small, socially distanced events while adhering to state and local public health recommendations regarding masks.
He only recently began in-person canvassing after hosting mostly virtual events due to the pandemic.
Trump on the other hand continued to hold controversial large in-person rallies where attendees were seen packed together and going maskless.
Donald Trump pictured waving to reporters before boarding Marine One outside the White House to be taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be treated for COVID-19 Friday evening
Trump pictured boarding Marine One to be transported to Walter Reed hospital
Following his positive diagnosis, Trump has canceled all his in-person events, with plans to hold them online.
Trump campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh bashed Biden for his campaign’s decision to begin in-person campaigning after he expressed concerns for volunteers’ safety for months now.
‘Joe Biden is a complete hypocrite because after months of saying door-to-door campaigning was dangerous and would kill people, his campaign is now engaged in doing just that because he knows he’s getting outworked on the ground,’ he said.
Twitter users were quick to slam the Trump campaign for refusing to back down in their negative advertising of Biden after his Democratic opponent halted his negative ads against the president
Biden’s in-person campaign comes at a crucial time in the presidential race, just weeks away from the election.
Just earlier this week he ramped up his trail with a seven-stop train tour of Ohio and Pennsylvanie. Next week he has his first campaign event in Arizona.
Twitter users were quick to slam the Trump campaign for refusing to back down in their negative advertising of Biden after his Democratic opponent halted his negative ads against the president.
‘Biden campaign pulls down all negative ads. Trump campaign not doing the same. No surprise here,’ one Twitter user said.
‘Because the President is sick, Biden pulls all negative ads. Because Trump is Trump he doesn’t. Biden will bring this nation together in a positive way,’ another added.
