WELL WHO DIDN’T SEE THIS COMING. The White House said Friday (Oct 2) that President Donald Trump had contracted COVID-19 and was experiencing “mild symptoms” as the virus that has killed more than 205,000 Americans spreads to The White House, and maybe beyond. (Read more about it at the Associated Press.)
Now, news has broken that Trump will spend a “few days” at the military hospital, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The White House said the visit was precautionary and that he would work from the hospital’s presidential suite, which is equipped to allow him to continue his official duties.
However, the president reportedly has a “low-grade” fever. Earlier Friday the White House said Trump had been injected with an experimental antibody cocktail by the White House physician.
Trump tweeted out the news at about 1 am. Folks on the east coast woke up to the shocking news that the leader of the free world, who at 70 years old is at risk of becoming very sick, indeed. It doesn’t help that he’s also overweight, and could have risk factors such as cholesterol or heart problems.
The president had spent the afternoon at a political fundraiser, while not saying anything to the crowd, although he knew he had been exposed by an aid, Hope Hicks who had tested positive and was symptomatic.
First lady Melania Trump also tested positive, the president said, and several others in the White House have, too. However, the president’s 14 year old son, Barron, and his daughter, Ivanka who is also a White House adviser, tested negative for the disease.
Trump has spent much of the year downplaying the threat of the virus, He wears masks only rarely and has been aggressively urging states, and particularly schools, to open up and loosen or ditch shutdown rules.
What’s more, the American presidential election is only a month away, and during during Tuesday’s Presidential Debate Trump mocked his rival Democratic candidate, Joe Biden for always wearing a mask. Because Biden shared a stage with Trump on Tuesday, he and his wife Dr. Jill Biden, in addition to is running-mate Kamala Harris have all tested for the virus, and are negative. Vice President Mike Pence also tested negative for the virus Friday morning.
Senator Mike Lee, who has been around the president, particularly during the announcement of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the supreme court has tested POSITIVE for the virus. Barrett has tested negative, but apparently she had the virus earlier this year.
Unfortunately, at the debate on Tuesday, many of Trump’s friends and family took off their masks once they were seated in the auditorium. This, despite a doctor from the Cleveland Clinic, where the debate took place, asking them to keep the masks on throughout the event.
FOX reporter, Chris Wallace, who moderated Tuesday’s debate was NOT happy about the possible exposure, especially as his family were sitting in the audience nearby the maskless Trump family. He called out them out. And also criticized the president’s COVID advisor, Scott Atlas.
This is incredible commentary from Fox News’ Chris Wallace about Trump’s coronavirus prognosis. Just wait for it. pic.twitter.com/LS3EhetGSi
— John Aravosis ???????? (@aravosis) October 2, 2020
