In a fundraising pitch, President Joe Biden took a light-hearted jab at his Republican opponent, Donald Trump, and tech tycoon Elon Musk, using his recent positive COVID-19 diagnosis as the basis for his humor. Shortly after news broke about his positive COVID-19 test, Biden posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “I’m sick.”
He followed this with, “of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election. And if you agree, pitch in here,” according to TIME Magazine. The post included images of Trump and Musk and linked to a fundraising page for Biden’s campaign, per The Hill. Biden is “experiencing mild symptoms,” as stated by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
He “will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time.” According to the president’s doctor, “The President presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, including rhinorrhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise.
He felt okay for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus.” In a related incident, after a shooter opened fire on Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, Musk formally endorsed Trump for the 2024 presidential race in a post on X. “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk said on Twitter.
Musk has frequently expressed support for Trump on social media and has criticized Biden for his immigration policies and age. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk allegedly pledged to donate around $45 million every month to a PAC supporting Trump. However, Musk later posted a joke on X with the phrase “FAKE GNUS” in response to the Journal’s article.
Biden’s campaign directly addressed Musk’s influence via an email to supporters, as reported by Business Insider. “Musk is using his vast fortune to try to control our democracy,” the email’s title reads. “The richest person in the world is now on Team MAGA,” the message continues. The campaign referenced Musk’s reported monthly pledge of $45 million to America PAC, criticizing the tech billionaire.
“Musk already ruined Twitter by allowing hate speech and disinformation to flood the platform,” another part of the email reads. “Arrogant billionaires only out for themselves are not what America wants or what America needs,” a Biden campaign spokesman told Bloomberg.
“Elon knows Trump is a sucker who will sell America out, cutting his taxes while raising taxes on the middle class by $2,500.” This exchange underscores the ongoing tension and high stakes as both sides gear up for the upcoming election, highlighting the intersection of health, politics, and the influence of wealth in modern American democracy.