President Donald Trump announced that he and Melania Trump have both tested positive for the coronavirus.
What we know:
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
- The news of the president and first lady’s test results came just hours after reports announced that Hope Hicks tested positive for COVID-19. Hicks is one of Trump’s closest advisers and traveled with him several times this week on Air Force One.
- Once news broke of Hicks’ positive test result, the president and first lady were tested and placed in quarantine. Hicks has also traveled with top advisers Stephen Miller and Jared Kushner. According to CNN, a source close to Hicks said that she is experiencing symptoms of the disease. President Trump was last seen in public while he was returning from a fundraising trip in New Jersey.
- The president’s physician, Navy Commander Dr. Sean Conley, confirmed the news of positive test results. He said that he expects the president to “continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering.”
- President Trump is not the only prominent world figure to contract the virus. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro previously tested positive. This news has already proven to be destabilizing as U.S. stock futures have already plummetted by over 400 points.
- At age 74, Trump falls into the highest risk category for complications due to COVID-19. It is no stretch to say that this is one of the most severe health threats a sitting president has experienced. The virus has already killed 200,000 Americans and 1 million people worldwide.
- President Trump has widely been criticized for his response during the pandemic. He has openly downplayed the severity of the virus and pushed local and state leaders to lift safety measures and reopen schools and businesses. Trump and members of the West Wing have also been seen disregarding social distancing and face-covering guidelines.
- According to the White House on Friday, President Trump is experiencing “mild symptoms” and is still “energetic” at work. His schedule has been updated to cancel upcoming events involving travel.
- Joe and Dr. Jill Biden both tested negative for the coronavirus on Friday following the confirmation of Trump’s diagnosis. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen have also tested negative.
The Commission on Presidential Debates has not commented on how Trump’s diagnosis will affect upcoming debates. The next debate between Trump and Joe Biden is currently scheduled for October 15.
