White House says Joe Biden saw doctor for his cold days after debate with Donald Trump

WASHINGTON – The White House acknowledged Thursday that President Joe Biden saw a doctor about his cold after his disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump, even though it had said earlier in the week that he had not received a medical exam since February.

Biden told Democratic governors during a meeting at the White House on Wednesday that he had seen a doctor for his cold, according to multiple reports.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates confirmed that Biden had seen a doctor on Monday, four days after the debate

“Several days later, the president was seen to check on his cold and was recovering well,” Bates said.

Bates said the doctor's visit did not involve a physical.

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Asked Wednesday whether Biden, 81, has had any medical exam since his last annual physical in February, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that she had talked to Biden’s doctor and that the answer was no.

Biden did have a COVID-19 test ahead of his faceoff with Trump, and the results were negative, Jean-Pierre told reporters the day after the debate.

The president, who is fully vaccinated against the virus, tested positive for COVID-19 two years ago but has not had any long COVID symptoms, Bates said. Long COVID refers to a wide range of symptoms that can occur for months or even years after a bout with the disease.

The White House and Biden’s reelection campaign have spent the week trying to contain the damage from Biden’s debacle of a debate with Trump in Atlanta last Thursday. During the televised faceoff, Biden spoke in a raspy voice and at times was unable to complete his thoughts or finish sentences.

Biden’s debate performance has raised concerns about his fitness for office and has ignited calls for him to drop out of the race. Biden has said he has no plans to quit.

Multiple polls have shown that Trump has pulled slightly ahead of Biden since the debate. Trump led Biden 41%- 38% in an exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll released earlier this week. Though still a close contest, the poll signaled Trump has opened a narrow lead since the previous survey in May, which showed the two contenders tied at 37%.

Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X @mcollinsNEWS.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden saw doctor for his cold after debate with Donald Trump