In the early morning hours of October 2, not long after midnight, President Trump informed the world via Twitter that he and First Lady Melania had tested positive for COVID-19.
The news came from the president via Twitter:
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
That shocking revelation came just a few hours after the president had announced, also on Twitter, that key adviser Hope Hicks had tested positive. “Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19,” the President reported. “Terrible! The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!”
A memorandum addressed to White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany from Commander Sean P. Conley, the President’s physician, described the president’s current condition.
“The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence,” Conley wrote.
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The Presidents’ physician continued: “The White House medical team and I will maintain a vigilant watch, and I appreciate the support provided by some of our country’s greatest medical professionals and institutions. Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any future developments.”
As the business day began on Friday, the Associated Press reported that the president was, in fact, having symptoms. “A White House official said Friday morning that the president was experiencing mild symptoms but was working from the White House residence.”
As Friday morning wore on, Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows updated the press on the president’s situation.
“The president does have mild symptoms,” Meadows told reporters. He also noted that the president remains actively at work.
“He continues to be not only in good spirits but very energetic,” Meadows told reporters outside the White House according to Deadline. “We’ve talked a number of times this morning. I got five or six things he tasked me to do like I do every single morning, and he certainly wanting to make sure that we stay engaged.”
First Lady Melania Trump said that she, too, was experiencing mild symptoms.
“Thank you for the love you are sending our way,” she told her millions of Twitter followers. “I have mild symptoms but overall feeling good. I am looking forward to a speedy recovery.”
The announcement that the President and First Lady had tested positive for the virus immediately raised questions about the health status of Vice President Pence. Any worries were quickly dispelled by Devin O’Malley, press secretary for the Vice President. On Twitter, O’Malley wrote:
“As has been routine for months, Vice President Pence is tested for COVID-19 every day. This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19. Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery.”
For his part, the vice president wished the president a speedy recovery, writing on Twitter:
“Karen and I send our love and prayers to our dear friends President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS Melania Trump. We join millions across America praying for their full and swift recovery,” VP Pence said on Twitter. “God bless you President Trump & our wonderful First Lady Melania.”
The president’s opponent on the campaign trail, former Vice President Joe Biden, along with his wife Jill, also tweeted his support for the president for a speedy recovery.
“Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery,” Biden said. “We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family.”
Questions also swirled as to what course of treatment might be provided to the president. Earlier in the year, the president stoked liberal outrage by taking hydroxychloroquine prophylactically. Though that inexpensive drug has proven useful in treating cases of COVID-19, it has come under continuous fire, largely by liberals and Democrats.
Will the president take Hydroxychloroquine now to fight off the virus or some other course of treatment? For now, the question remains unanswered.
Dr. Scott Atlas, advisor to the President on the pandemic, nonetheless predicted a rapid recovery.
“I anticipate a complete and full and rapid recovery back to normal after his necessary confinement period. I anticipate he’ll be back on the road and in full swing,” Atlas told Fox News according to the New York Post.
Atlas also noted that the president is generally vigorous and in good health.
“He is a very, very healthy guy,” Atlas said. “And the overwhelming majority of people, even at his age, do fine with this. He is very healthy, and so I anticipate the same for him.”
The president was scheduled to be on a call shortly after noon on Friday to discuss aspects of COVID support for senior citizens. Additionally, according to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, governors’ offices received an invitation to a call with the president in the morning. Four hours later, Vice President Pence led the calls instead of the president.
“White House told Cuomo’s office that POTUS would be on this 12:15 call, per people briefed,” Haberman said on Twitter. “But it’s Pence, not POTUS, who is on right now.”
Not surprisingly, the president’s upcoming campaign events have been cancelled.
In a statement from the Trump Campaign, Trump 2020 Campaign Manager Bill Stepien wrote: “All previously announced campaign events involving the President’s participation are in the process of being moved to virtual events or are being temporarily postponed. In addition, previously announced events involving members of the First Family are also being temporarily postponed.”
