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Trump showing mild 'cold-like symptoms' after positive Covid test – live Trump and first lady showing 'mild symptoms' after positive Covid tests – live
(32 minutes later)
White House confirms president has mild symptoms, following New Jersey fundraiser Thursday, in which he came into contact with about 100 people White House confirms president has mild symptoms, while first lady tweets that she has the same but is ‘overall feeling good’
Democratic nominee Joe Biden has reportedly received a coronavirus test and is awaiting his results.
The AP reports:
Biden and Trump shared a debate stage for 90 minutes on Tuesday, but the two nominees were instructed not to shake hands and to stay several feet away from each other.
According to a department of justice spokesperson, attorney general William Barr has tested negative for coronavirus.
Spokesperson Kerri Kupec previously said Barr had not seen Trump since Saturday, when the president announced the supreme court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett.
First lady Melania Trump confirmed she, like her husband, is experiencing mild symptoms of coronavirus.
“Thank you for the love you are sending our way,” the first lady said in a tweet. “I have mild symptoms but overall feeling good. I am looking forward to a speedy recovery.”
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows confirmed moments ago that the president is also showing mild symptoms.
A White House spokesperson previously told CNN that the president and first lady’s son, Barron, had tested negative for the virus.
Despite Mark Meadows’ confirmation that the White House learned of Hope Hicks’ positive test result yesterday afternoon, there is still some confusion around the exact timeline of notification.
A New York Times reporter noted White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was abruptly pulled from the president’s trip to New Jersey, which was before Marine One took off for Joint Base Andrews.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said senior officials learned of Hope Hicks’ positive test result yesterday afternoon.
However, several other senior White House staffers did not learn of the news until last night, according to CNN. Some even learned from media reports.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows would not provide details on what treatment the president is receiving after testing positive for coronavirus.
“He’s in the residence now, and in true fashion, he’s probably critiquing the way that I’m answering these questions,” Meadows told reporters at the White House.
Meadows said he and another senior White House adviser, Dan Scavino, had tested negative for the virus.
“At the same time, I fully expect that as this virus continues to go on, other people in the White House will certainly have a positive test result,” Meadows said.
Meadows also confirmed the White House learned of Hope Hicks’ positive test result yesterday, as Marine One was taking off to start the president’s trip to New Jersey.
Despite that, Trump continued on to New Jersey and held a fundraising event with donors.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows confirmed that Trump is currently experiencing mild symptoms from coronavirus.White House chief of staff Mark Meadows confirmed that Trump is currently experiencing mild symptoms from coronavirus.
“The president does have mild symptoms,” Meadows told reporters at the White House. “The doctors continue to monitor both his health and the health of the first lady.”“The president does have mild symptoms,” Meadows told reporters at the White House. “The doctors continue to monitor both his health and the health of the first lady.”
Meadows said the president remains “very energetic” and is paying close attention to the economy and coronavirus relief negotiations despite his illness.Meadows said the president remains “very energetic” and is paying close attention to the economy and coronavirus relief negotiations despite his illness.
Meadows spoke to reporters without wearing a mask.Meadows spoke to reporters without wearing a mask.
This video from 2016 is making the rounds again, after Trump announced he and the first lady has tested positive for coronavirus.This video from 2016 is making the rounds again, after Trump announced he and the first lady has tested positive for coronavirus.
In the video, Trump reacts to the news that Hillary Clinton had contracted pneumonia during the 2016 presidential campaign.In the video, Trump reacts to the news that Hillary Clinton had contracted pneumonia during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump said, “Here’s a woman, she’s supposed to fight all of these different things, and she can’t make it 15 feet to her car. Give me a break.”Trump said, “Here’s a woman, she’s supposed to fight all of these different things, and she can’t make it 15 feet to her car. Give me a break.”
Trump’s campaign manager, Bill Stepien, sent an internal note to staff encouraging them to “immediately begin self-quarantining” if they have had exposure to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, according to reports.Trump’s campaign manager, Bill Stepien, sent an internal note to staff encouraging them to “immediately begin self-quarantining” if they have had exposure to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, according to reports.
Stepien also encouraged employees to wear masks, frequently wash their hands and practice social distancing.Stepien also encouraged employees to wear masks, frequently wash their hands and practice social distancing.
Trump has previously encouraged Americans to wear masks, but the president himself has frequently been seen in public not wearing a mask.Trump has previously encouraged Americans to wear masks, but the president himself has frequently been seen in public not wearing a mask.
At the president’s recent campaign rallies, most of which have been outdoors, many attendees have been photographed not wearing masks and not practicing social distancing.At the president’s recent campaign rallies, most of which have been outdoors, many attendees have been photographed not wearing masks and not practicing social distancing.
House intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff opened a hearing this morning by wishing the president and the first lady a swift recovery.House intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff opened a hearing this morning by wishing the president and the first lady a swift recovery.
“Let me just express my best wishes to the president and the first lady for a speedy recovery from Covid-19,” Schiff said.“Let me just express my best wishes to the president and the first lady for a speedy recovery from Covid-19,” Schiff said.
“I know we were all quite shocked and distressed this morning to learn of their illness, and we hope for a very speedy recovery. They’ll be very much in our thoughts.”“I know we were all quite shocked and distressed this morning to learn of their illness, and we hope for a very speedy recovery. They’ll be very much in our thoughts.”
Schiff was the lead impeachment manager during Trump’s Senate trial earlier this year, making him a frequent target of the president’s ire. Trump has repeatedly referred to the Democratic congressman as “Shifty Schiff.”Schiff was the lead impeachment manager during Trump’s Senate trial earlier this year, making him a frequent target of the president’s ire. Trump has repeatedly referred to the Democratic congressman as “Shifty Schiff.”
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said the president’s positive coronavirus test result would not disrupt Republicans’ plans to get supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett confirmed quickly.Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said the president’s positive coronavirus test result would not disrupt Republicans’ plans to get supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett confirmed quickly.
“We can move forward. Our biggest enemy obviously is ... the coronavirus, keeping everybody healthy and well and in place to do our job,” McConnell told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt this morning. “We don’t anticipate any kind of unanticipated event that could throw us off schedule.”“We can move forward. Our biggest enemy obviously is ... the coronavirus, keeping everybody healthy and well and in place to do our job,” McConnell told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt this morning. “We don’t anticipate any kind of unanticipated event that could throw us off schedule.”
Lindsey Graham, the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, similarly said Barrett’s confirmation hearings were still “on track” to begin on October 12.Lindsey Graham, the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, similarly said Barrett’s confirmation hearings were still “on track” to begin on October 12.
Supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett has tested negative for coronavirus, a White House official told the National Journal.Supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett has tested negative for coronavirus, a White House official told the National Journal.
That news should reassure the dozens of Republican senators who met with Barrett this week.That news should reassure the dozens of Republican senators who met with Barrett this week.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris has reportedly tested negative for coronavirus.Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris has reportedly tested negative for coronavirus.
Harris also echoed Joe Biden’s warm wishes to the president and the first lady for a speedy recovery.Harris also echoed Joe Biden’s warm wishes to the president and the first lady for a speedy recovery.
“Doug and I join Joe Biden and Dr. Biden in wishing President Trump and the First Lady a full and speedy recovery,” Harris said in a tweet. “We’re keeping them and the entire Trump family in our thoughts.”“Doug and I join Joe Biden and Dr. Biden in wishing President Trump and the First Lady a full and speedy recovery,” Harris said in a tweet. “We’re keeping them and the entire Trump family in our thoughts.”
Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican national committee, has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus.Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican national committee, has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus.
The New York Times reports:The New York Times reports:
The White House said Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and senior adviser, and her husband, Jared Kushner, had received another coronavirus test this morning.The White House said Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and senior adviser, and her husband, Jared Kushner, had received another coronavirus test this morning.
Both of the White House advisers tested negative.Both of the White House advisers tested negative.
The president’s youngest son, Barron Trump, has also tested negative for the virus and is taking precautions to avoid catching it, per CNN.The president’s youngest son, Barron Trump, has also tested negative for the virus and is taking precautions to avoid catching it, per CNN.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was grateful the vice president had tested negative for coronavirus.House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was grateful the vice president had tested negative for coronavirus.
“Thank God the vice president has tested negatively and the second lady as well,” Pelosi told MSNBC. “That continuity of government is always in place.”“Thank God the vice president has tested negatively and the second lady as well,” Pelosi told MSNBC. “That continuity of government is always in place.”
The Democratic speaker said she had also taken a coronavirus test this morning and was waiting on the results.The Democratic speaker said she had also taken a coronavirus test this morning and was waiting on the results.
Pelosi met with treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday, but Mnuchin said this morning that he had tested negative.Pelosi met with treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday, but Mnuchin said this morning that he had tested negative.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the news of Trump testing positive for coronavirus in an MSNBC interview this morning.House speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the news of Trump testing positive for coronavirus in an MSNBC interview this morning.
“We all receive that news with great sadness,” Pelosi told MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle.“We all receive that news with great sadness,” Pelosi told MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle.
The Democratic speaker said she always prays for the safety of the president and his family and those prayers had “intensified” since she heard the news.The Democratic speaker said she always prays for the safety of the president and his family and those prayers had “intensified” since she heard the news.
Pelosi pivoted to making a pitch for the Democrats’ coronavirus relief package, noting the president and the first lady would receive “the best of care and that’s what we want for everyone in this country.”Pelosi pivoted to making a pitch for the Democrats’ coronavirus relief package, noting the president and the first lady would receive “the best of care and that’s what we want for everyone in this country.”
Pelosi also suggested this may be “a learning experience” for the president and his supporters about the importance of wearing masks and social distancing.Pelosi also suggested this may be “a learning experience” for the president and his supporters about the importance of wearing masks and social distancing.
The speaker said Trump’s behavior in recent weeks, such as holding rallies with hundreds of attendees and avoiding wearing a mask in most settings, were a “brazen invitation” for coronavirus.The speaker said Trump’s behavior in recent weeks, such as holding rallies with hundreds of attendees and avoiding wearing a mask in most settings, were a “brazen invitation” for coronavirus.
Pelosi expressed hope that this moment will be an opportunity to take a “saner approach” to limiting the spread of the virus.Pelosi expressed hope that this moment will be an opportunity to take a “saner approach” to limiting the spread of the virus.