Biden's health concerns pushed aside by Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis

Over the months leading up to the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden's health has often been an issue.

President Trump himself has repeatedly called attention to the Democratic presidential nominee, whom he calls "Sleepy Joe."

"Sleepy Joe doesn't know where he is, or what he's doing," Trump wrote on Twitter in March. "Honestly, I don't think he even knows what office he's running for!"

"They ask questions and he starts reading the teleprompter. He says move the teleprompter a little bit closer please," Trump tweeted in September. 

And Biden's proclivity to misspeak has indeed raised eyebrows, even among Democrats. 

In one Democratic Party debate, Biden blurted out, "Go to Joe 3-0-3-3-0." Apparently, he meant to tell viewers they should text "Joe" to 30330, but he looked confused. There are plenty more: In New Hampshire, he said he loved it there … in Vermont. Then he said, "Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids." 

Just last month, Biden said: "If Donald Trump has his way, the complications from COVID-19, which are well beyond what they should be — it's estimated that 200 million people have died — probably by the time I finish this talk."

But all the speculation and all the gibes about Biden's health were recently eclipsed by the COVID-19 diagnosis of Trump, who returned to the White House on Monday evening after three days at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

There are still nearly 30 days to go before the election, so it's all but inevitable that health questions will arise about both Trump, 74, and Biden, 77. But there have been reports that Biden's health is a concern, even as all eyes have turned to Trump's health.

"He's not a healthy guy," Dr. David Scheiner, who was Obama's personal physician for 22 years before he became president, said in September after reading Biden's health records. "He's not in bad shape for his age, but I wouldn't say he's in outstanding health. Could I guarantee he won't have issues for the next four years? He has a lot of issues that are just sort of sitting there."

According to Biden's personal physician, Biden is currently being treated for AFib, as well as high cholesterol, acid reflux, and seasonal allergies. Despite the irregular heartbeat, Biden's doctor said he "remains completely asymptomatic" and has not needed treatment for the disorder since being diagnosed in 2003.

Biden also appeared to suffer a subconjunctival hemorrhage during a September televised town hall, which caused his left eye to fill with blood. Biden blamed a contact lens mishap.

In 1988, Biden twice underwent brain surgery.

But the candidate has often not been forthcoming with facts about his health, especially on how his team is working to prevent him from contracting COVID-19, The New York Times reported this week.

"With transparency on health newly significant in the presidential race, Joe Biden's safety protocols have remained largely under wraps," the Times began a report on Sunday. "But on Sunday evening, his campaign said he had again tested negative for the coronavirus.

The Times criticized the Biden campaign for "saying little about what steps it is taking to protect" him.

"Transparency has taken on new significance in the presidential race given the conflicting information about Mr. Trump's health and the fact that his Democratic rival, who is also in an age group that is particularly susceptible to COVID-19, was exposed to the president during their 90-minute debate on Tuesday," the report continued. "Mr. Biden, who is ahead in national polls and many battleground state surveys, still faces the possibility of a positive test; he is continuing to campaign rather than quarantine, and his campaign has been cagey about his health protocols."

Trump faces his own health questions. A recent book by New York Times correspondent Michael Schmidt claims Vice President Pence was put on standby just in case Trump was incapacitated.

"Schmidt reported in his new book that Pence was told to be on standby to assume presidential powers last November in the event the president had to be anesthetized during a previously unscheduled visit to Walter Reed Medical Center," The Hill wrote last month.

Trump sought to squash that story, writing on Twitter: "It never ends! Now they are trying to say that your favorite President, me, went to Walter Reed Medical Center, having suffered a series of mini-strokes. Never happened to THIS candidate — FAKE NEWS."

The president then suggested that "perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party!"

With the combined age of the two candidates ringing in at 151 years old, expect more stories about their health before election day.