Nine months after Covid-19 hit the United States, the president, who downplayed the virus in its early stages, became the world’s highest-profile patient of a disease that has killed more than 1 million people.
President Donald Trump announced early Friday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus, upending his presidency and the 2020 race just 32 days before Election Day.
The 74-year-old president disclosed his diagnosis in a tweet at 12:54 a.m. on Friday, hours after news broke that top aide Hope Hicks had tested positive.
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19,” he tweeted, referencing first lady Melania Trump. “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!“
Trump’s physician, Sean Conley, said in a memo that the president and first lady were “both well“ and that Trump would continue to carry out his duties as president. Conley did not mention whether Trump was exhibiting any symptoms, but a person familiar with the situation said the president was not showing symptoms yet on Thursday. Still, Vice President Mike Pence may need to step in for some tasks if Trump is confined to the White House grounds, the person said.
The announcement threatens to transform the final month of a volatile campaign that Trump had long intended to frame around a message of success in defeating the virus — despite surging case counts in parts of the country, shuttered schools and businesses and widespread division about the seriousness of the threat. “I just want to say that the end of the pandemic is in sight, and next year will be one of the greatest years in the history of our country,” he said Thursday evening in a videotaped message to the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner.
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Trump's announcement, coming only 32 days before Election Day, is one of the greatest threats to a president‘s health in recent decadeshttps://t.co/wVyE3xjZDe
— POLITICO (@politico) October 2, 2020
Vice President Pence and second lady Karen Pence test negative for coronavirus hours after the president and first lady tested positive https://t.co/kAiXC8ykrn
— POLITICO (@politico) October 2, 2020
News of the infection of the most powerful man in the world with the most notorious disease in the world drew instant reactions of shock, sympathy and undisguised glee https://t.co/cb3EPQgdX2
— POLITICO (@politico) October 2, 2020
I wish the president and first lady a swift and symptom-free #COVID19 recovery followed by a massive and dispute-free election defeat.
These sincere sentiments can, and do, coexist.
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) October 2, 2020
This is my first retweet of Rachel Maddow https://t.co/DPMNPv8wUa
— Eli Lake (@EliLake) October 2, 2020
After White House officials learned of Hicks's symptoms, Trump and his entourage flew to New Jersey, where he attended a fundraiser at and delivered a speech. Trump was in close contact with dozens of other people, including supporters, at a roundtable. https://t.co/00yYAQ9gT1
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 2, 2020
The only thing that feels like a certainty this morning is that the White House will not be honest about the president’s medical condition over the coming days and weeks.
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) October 2, 2020
Four years ago to this very day, candidate Donald Trump mocked Hillary Clinton after being dianosed with pneumonia. https://t.co/FcwxltbDSM
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) October 2, 2020
He was mocking Hillary but he looked just like that tottering down that ramp.
The Lincoln Project wishes the President, First Lady, and the many White House, campaign staff, and those exposed to COVID-19 a swift recovery.
Our full statement: pic.twitter.com/VE4hytn4nY
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) October 2, 2020
well, okey-dokey, then https://t.co/1vWlaeHpOn
— Laura Lorson (@prairielaura) October 2, 2020
I figured in the long run it would be the same old, same old with Trump, his family and staff. Trump’s infection won’t change a dang thing.
Oh I now understand Trump is feeling fatigued but is otherwise fine. Now I’m starting to believe that is a lie and Trump is sicker than we are being told.
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