Wild Joe Biden and Kamala Harris conspiracy theories fall flat

The strange circumstances of Joe Biden’s announcement to withdraw from the US presidential election have sparked wild theories.

US President Joe Biden’s decision on Sunday to withdraw from the race for re-election shocked the world – but it also took place in very unusual circumstances.

He’s been in isolation in Delaware since contracting Covid last week and his momentous announcement was made on X, not in person.

Add to that the facts the 81-year-old hasn’t been since in public since deplaning in Delaware on July 17 and that he’s cancelled nine trips that were scheduled for the next two weeks. Additionally, in his first call to his former campaign headquarters today, his voice sounded raspy.

“I know yesterday’s news was surprising and it was hard for you to hear, but it was the right thing to do,” he told campaign staff in Wilmington during the call.

Unsurprisingly, it hasn’t taken long for conspiracy theories to pop up.

US President Joe Biden is now a lame-duck president. Picture: AFP

Republican representative for Colorado’s 3rd congressional district Lauren Boebert made an extraordinary demand on social media, indicating her belief Mr Biden might be dead in a Weekend At Bernie’s-style scenario.

“I demand proof of life from Joe Biden today by 5pm. He needs to get in front of some camera and discuss if he’s aware that he dropped out. Hiding is completely unacceptable,” Ms Boebert wrote.

That conspiracy theory was immediately disproved by Mr Biden’s phone call today.

Republican representative Lauren Boebert suggested Joe Biden might be dead. Picture: AFP

Meanwhile, billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman also shared and amplified a number of outlandish claims, which suggested without evidence that Mr Biden might be terminally ill. He also compared Mr Biden to a “hostage” and questioned the veracity of the US President’s letter announcing his withdrawal from the race.

“If this were a hostage situation, that letter would not qualify as proof of life,” Mr Ackman wrote.

The Pershing Square Capital Management CEO, who has endorsed Donald Trump, later opined: “If the President is ill, aren’t the American people entitled to be made aware immediately?”

He also fuelled conspiracy theories that questioned whether or not Mr Biden actually signed his letter.

Billionaire Bill Ackman reposted conspiracy theories about Mr Biden's letter. Picture: X

There’s been widespread speculation about Mr Biden’s health in recent months, which increased exponentially following his disastrous debate performance against Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump on June 27.

During the debate, Mr Biden sounded hoarse, mumbled and seemingly froze on stage, which was later blamed on a common cold as well as fatigue from recent travel.

Today, the White House moved to allay concerns about the now lame-duck President, with a spokesman writing: “President Biden’s Covid symptoms have almost resolved completely, and he continues to perform all of his presidential duties,” as it released an update from Dr Kevin O’Connor, the physician to the President.

The update confirmed Mr Biden had completed his 10th dose of Paxlovid, an oral antiviral pill, and described his oxygen saturation as “excellent” and stated his “lungs remain clear”.

US Vice President Kamala Harris. Picture: Chris Kleponis/AFP

Conservative commentators also attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the frontrunner to be the Democratic Party’s candidate for the 2024 US presidential election and has already been endorsed by Mr Biden and former president Bill Clinton.

False narratives included her purported “affair” with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, birtherism, her ethnicity and the circulation of fake quotes on social media.

The relationship between Mr Brown and Ms Harris took place about 30 years ago while he was separated from his wife and was not a secret.

The tactic to attack Ms Harris over her personal life has previously been blasted as “disgusting”.

The birtherism allegation is also completely false as she was born in California. Her mother hailed from India and her father from Jamaica.