Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden made his first public appearance in months, after being taken off the campaign trail due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, on Monday to celebrate Memorial Day in honor of those who lost their lives defending the nation.
The former vice president placed a wreath at a veterans park close to his home in Delaware, wearing a face mask as he left his residence — a move that is starkly contrasted to President Trump who has refused to wear a mask in public during the coronavirus pandemic.
Since canceling a campaign rally in early March, Mr. Biden has built a studio inside his home where he has been campaigning virtually.
His first in-person appearance after more than two months suggests he may get back out in the public during the roughly five months that remain ahead of Election Day.
Mr. Biden’s campaign officials have said he’ll get back on the trail to visit battleground states, but they are not in a rush and instead are going to listen to health experts and scientists about when it is safe to do so.
The former vice president is in the “vulnerable” category that health experts are concerned about regarding COVID-19 because of his age. He is 77 years old. Mr. Trump, too, is also in the elderly category as he will turn 74 in June.
“We will never make any choices that put our staff or voters in harm’s way,” said Jen O’Malley Dillon, Mr. Biden’s campaign manager.
Mr. Trump, meanwhile, has not held large campaign rallies, either.
He honored Memorial Day by laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery and visiting Baltimore’s Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, where he delivered remarks about the significance of the day.
“As our brave warriors have shown us from the nation’s earliest days, America is the captain of its own fate. No obstacle, no challenge, and no threat is a match for the sheer determination of the American people,” the president said.
Mr. Trump was not seen wearing a face mask.
• The Associated Press contributed to this report.
