President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, the president announced on Twitter early Friday morning.
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19,” Trump tweeted. “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
“The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain home within the White House during their convalescence,” White House physician Sean Conley said. “The White House medical team and I will maintain a vigilant watch… Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering.”
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters that Trump was experiencing “mild” symptoms but was in “good spirits” and “very energetic.”
Test comes after Hope Hicks tests positive:
Trump and the first lady tested positive after Bloomberg News reported that top aide Hope Hicks had tested positive on Wednesday.
Hicks, one of Trump’s closest advisers, traveled with Trump on Wednesday before testing positive.
Trump and his team flew to New Jersey for a fundraiser where Trump had “dozens” of close contacts and posed for photo ops with supporters after the White House already learned that he had been exposed.
Trump also flew to an event in Minneapolis and to Cleveland, where he stood on the same stage as Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Biden is expected to be tested on Friday.
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife announced they had tested negative.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, who was last with Trump on Friday, said she tested positive on Wednesday.
What happens now?
"Even if Mr. Trump, 74, remains asymptomatic, he will have to withdraw from the campaign trail and stay isolated in the White House for an unknown period of time," The New York Times reported. "If he becomes sick, it could raise questions about whether he should remain on the ballot at all."
Trump has already scrapped his upcoming rallies in Florida, Wisconsin, and Arizona, according to the report.
It is unclear whether Trump will be able to participate in the next debate, which is scheduled for October 15.
“Even if Mr. Trump does not become seriously ill, the positive test could prove devastating to his political fortunes given his months of playing down the enormity of the pandemic even as the virus was still ravaging the country and killing about 1,000 Americans every day,” The Times reported noting that Trump repeatedly claimed the virus would “disappear” and knocked masks.
“I don’t wear masks like him,” Trump said at Tuesday’s debate. “Every time you see him, he’s got a mask.”
