President Joe Biden on Wednesday revealed that he had tested positive for COVID, forcing him to cancel plans to attend an event. The President then boarded a plane bound for his home in Delaware to isolate himself.
Biden’s team then took to X to take advantage of the attention around the positive test, attacking Donald Trump and Elon Musk in a post that was seen over 134 million times.
I’m Sick
On the social media platform X, which is owned by Musk, Biden released two tweets minutes apart that gave many people confusion until the joke was revealed.
“I’m sick,” Biden wrote on X. The simplistic nature of the tweet was widely mocked online.
Responding to the First Tweet
Critics of Biden descended on the tweet, attempting to capitalize on questions of his mental acuity for the bizarre and simplistic tweet.
“This is the first tweet that Joe actually wrote and sent himself,” said X user Brenden Dilley. “I thought this was a parody account for a minute,” said another X user.
Supporting the President
Some supporters of Biden responded to the X post sincerely, wishing the president well and a swift recovery.
“Get well soon Mr. President,” wrote Brian Krassenstein. “We are sick too, President Biden. We are sick of Donald Trump. Please get well soon so you can beat him at the ballot box,” wrote another X user.
Follow Up Post
While some were scratching their heads at the short and direct X post from Biden, the Biden X account posted a follow-up post a few minutes later that turned the sick admission into an attack.
“[I’m sick] of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election. And if you agree, pitch in here,” the Biden follow-up post said, connecting it to the “I’m Sick” tweet and posting a link to donate to him that featured the faces of Trump and Musk.
Musk’s Trump Support
In the wake of the Trump rally shooting, Elon Musk declared that his full support was behind the former president for his reelection efforts.
“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote in a July 13 X post that included a clip of Trump surviving the shooting attempt.
Funding Trump
In the aftermath of the shooting, The Wallstreet Journal reported that Musk is now planning to give around $45 million per month to a pro-Trump super PAC called “America PAC.” Previously in March of this year, Musk asserted that he wouldn’t be donating to anyone.
“Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President,” said Musk in an X post from March 6.
Supporting Trump’s VP
Since putting his support behind Trump, Musk has been making positive pro-Trump posts which garner millions of views.
“Congratulations @JDVance1! Excellent decision by @realDonaldTrump,” Musk wrote Monday in congratulations for Trump’s VP pick.
Reposting Ramaswamy
Musk also reposted an X post from Vivek Ramaswamy congratulating JD Vance for his vice presidential nomination.
“So proud of my friend, classmate, and fellow southwest Ohioan today. We used to watch Bengals games at the bar in law school, it’s awesome we’re now here a decade later with JD joining the strongest presidential ticket in our lifetime. He’ll be an outstanding Vice President and I look forward to everything ahead for him and for our country,” Ramaswamy wrote.
Follow Up Reaction
Supporters of Biden praised the follow-up post for its witty nature and how it attempted the twist the narrative around the president being sick.
“lol this was a good delayed thread,” wrote X user Brian Krassenstein. “ur team lowkey cooked with this,” said another X user.
Zuckerberg Mentioned
Critics of Biden in response to his post brought up money spent in 2020 by Mark Zuckerberg as a retort to Biden’s jab at Musk funding the Trump campaign.
“Mark Zuckerburg spent $400 million helping you win the 2020 election. If you actually had a problem with it you could have changed it. You’re only complaining now because the billionaires like most other people are shifting to Donald Trump,” said X user Philp Anderson.
Misleading Claim
An AP fact check on Zuckerberg’s spending has clarified that while Zuckerberg did spend more than $400 million during the 2020 election, it was sent to two nonprofit organizations that benefitted state and local elections and not Joe Biden himself directly.
According to the FEC, the maximum amount that one individual can donate directly to a candidate’s campaign in 2020 was $2,800. According to AP, Zuckerberg did not directly donate to the Biden presidential campaign that year.
