JAMES MEAD
Managing Editor
[Updated 10:03 a.m., Oct. 2]
At 12:54 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, President Donald Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19.
In a Tweet, he said, “Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
This announcement comes following the announcement earlier this week that Hope Hicks, a close advisor to Trump and the former White House communications director, was discovered to be COVID positive after displaying symptoms.
A letter from Navy Commander Dr. Sean Conley, Trump’s doctor, said, “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. 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.”
Although Maggie Haberman of the New York Times writes that he has begun to show mild symptoms, Trump is expected to continue his duties while recovering, although he has cancelled a campaign rally in Sanford, FL and converted it into an abbreviated virtual event.
The positive case comes after months of controversial rallies held by Trump for his reelection campaign, where large gatherings of people would turn up without wearing masks or following social distancing.
While some of these events have been held outdoors, he has also held indoor events.
Many public figures have reached out to express their wishes to the president and first lady, including his Democratic opponent for the presidential race, Joe Biden, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, who himself tested positive in April and had to be taken to the ICU before recovering.
Concerns for Trump’s health note that he does meet some risk factors for COVID-19: he is 74 years old and overweight.
Physicians believe his risk would increase if he developed pneumonia, which typically, if at all, develops during the second week of having COVID-19.
If Trump’s condition deteriorates, he could transfer his powers to Vice President Mike Pence under the 25th amendment of the Constitution.
Currently, analysts are trying to discover who the president and first lady were in contact with who might have been exposed and are currently being tested.
Among the possibilities include Mike Pence (recently tested negative), the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, Trump’s pick for the supreme court, Amy Coney Barrett (recently tested negative) and some Senate Republicans.
They also include attendees at the Tuesday presidential debate such as Trump’s children (some of whom recently tested negative) and the Democratic challenger for the presidency, Joe Biden, who faced off at only 10-foot distance where neither nominees wore masks.
How the president’s diagnosis will impact the election in 33 days will continue to be seen.