President Joe Biden coughed throughout a speech on Tuesday before signing legislation at a White House ceremony.
The president signed into law the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.
During his speech, Biden coughed so heavily and frequently that he sometimes could not complete sentences.
Biden is coughing so much during his speech that he can barely talk pic.twitter.com/sSYkhIMtgW
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) August 9, 2022
Biden, who recently had Covid, repeatedly coughs into his hand and then touches his face pic.twitter.com/6K2LlWUwUY
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) August 9, 2022
In one instance, the cough became so disruptive that the president apologized.
“This investment alone is going to create 40,000 jobs — (coughs) excuse me, I’m sorry — and increase market share of memory chips by 500 percent. Two more American companies — I’m going to take another sip of water,” Biden said.
Biden repeatedly sipped his water throughout the speech and at one point blew his nose before appearing to shove the soiled tissue back in his pocket.
Before the speech, Biden looked confused after he shook hands with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and almost immediately extended his hand to him again, appearing to forget that he had shaken Schumer’s hand seconds ago.
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 9, 2022
Biden’s coughing fits on Tuesday were reminiscent of a speech Hillary Clinton gave in 2016 in which she appeared to cough a green substance into a glass of water.
Biden was diagnosed with COVID-19 on July 21. After testing negative several days later, his doctor announced on July 30 that he had contracted the virus again. In a Wednesday update, the White House doctor noted that Biden had an “occasional cough.”
The White House announced on Saturday and Sunday that Biden had tested negative.
