‘Chinese Virus’ downs Trump and wife Melania as the couple begin quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus, president vows ‘we’ll get through this’
The Sun
Donald Trump has tested positive for coronavirus along with First Lady Melania – and has vowed: “We will get through this together.”
The US President, 74, announced the positive results, hours after it was revealed his top aide tested positive for COVID.
Trump revealed that he and Melania will remain in quarantine – in what could set back his campaign with just 32 days until the presidential election.
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19,” Trump tweeted on Friday morning.
“We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately.
“We will get through this TOGETHER!” he added.
It comes after Hope Hicks – one of his closest advisers – tested positive for the virus on Wednesday.
Trump wrote: “Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible!
“The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!”
Kayleigh McEnany, the White House Press Secretary, said the “strength of the entire country is with the President”.
She wrote on Twitter: “The strength of the entire country is with President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS.
“America stands united. Our country stands strong. Your President will continue to put the People first!”
Sean Conley, Physician to the President, said the pair are “both well at this time” and will remain at home within the White House during their recovery.
He said: “I release the following information with the permission of President Donald J.Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
“This evening I received confirmation that both President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
“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.
“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.”
Before he revealed the news on Twitter, Trump confirmed to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Thursday that Hicks, 31, did have the virus.
Trump said Hicks “did test positive,” and said he himself “just heard about it.”
“We spent a lot of time together,” he told the Fox News host.
Hicks served as White House communications director from September 2017 to February 2018 before returning to Washington earlier this year as “counselor to the president.”
Hicks and Trump travelled together at least two days this week – including to and from the first presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday and to a rally in Minnesota on Wednesday.
She began having mild symptoms when traveling back from the rally in Minnesota onboard Air Force One on Wednesday, according to reports.
Hicks’ positive diagnosis, which reportedly came on Wednesday, was revealed by reporters on Thursday.
Trump initially said “I don’t know” whether he and Melania would quarantine, but later confirmed online that they were doing so.
A prolonged period of quarantine could hamper Trump’s re-election campaign with just 32 days to go until the election.
“I just went for a test and we’ll see what happens and who knows,” Trump told Hannity.
He added that Melania “spent a lot of time” with Hicks, and was also tested for the virus.
The president said he was “surprised” to hear about Hicks testing positive – but added that “she’s young.”
Hicks traveled to and from the first presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio, on Air Force One on Tuesday.
A picture shared by NBC News on Thursday shows a maskless Hicks getting off a plane ahead of the debate.
News outlets initially reported there was no evidence that Trump himself tested positive for Covid-19.
White House officials said: “Contact tracing has been done and the appropriate notifications and recommendations have been made.”
Trump’s results were revealed on Friday morning.
At 74 years old, Trump also faces a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Speaking with Fox, Trump appeared to blame soldiers and law enforcement officials for Hope contracting the virus.
He said that it’s hard to turn away soldiers, cops, and military members who want to come up and greet them at campaign events.
“They want to hug you and they want to kiss you because we really have done a good job for them. You get close and things happen,” Trump said.
Trump is tested regularly for the virus, although it is unclear exactly how often.
White House staff are said to be tested for coronavirus daily.
Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere released a statement saying: “The President takes the health and safety of himself and everyone who works in support of him and the American people very seriously.”
“White House Operations collaborates with the Physician to the President and the White House Military Office to ensure all plans and procedures incorporate current CDC guidance and best practices for limiting COVID-19 exposure to the greatest extent possible both on complex and when the President is traveling,” Deere added.