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Donald Trump to be hospitalized following Covid diagnosis, White House says – live Donald Trump to be hospitalized following Covid diagnosis, White House says – live
(32 minutes later)
President will head to Walter Reed medical center in wake of diagnosisPresident will head to Walter Reed medical center in wake of diagnosis
By late Friday afternoon, contract tracers in New Jersey were still waiting for White House and RNC officials to hand over the list of names of people exposed to coronavirus after coming in contact with Trump last night at a fundraiser at a New Jersey golf course, Huffington Post’s Molly Redden reports.
Public social media posts from some attendees of Trump’s fundraiser also show them out in public, mingling with other people, and not wearing masks, even half a day after Trump’s diagnosis was made public.
Just minutes ago, after the story about the delay in contact tracing information was published and prompting widespread outrage, a New Jersey official confirmed the list of names had finally been sent.
Three White House reporters tested positive for COVID-19 today
Chris Hayes, the MSNBC host, blamed White House for “disregarding public safety best practices and thereby turning the WH into an unsafe workplace for everyone.”
While Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has pulled his negative campaign ads after the announcement that the president has been diagnosed with coronavirus, he is staying on the campaign trail, the New York Times reports.
But the choice to keep campaigning will be evaluated “hour to hour,” based on Trump’s condition, Jonathan Martin reports.
Details of Trump’s arrival at Walter Reed medical center
The president arrived in Marine One at the Walter Reed Landing Zone at 6:29 PM, according to the White House pool reporter:
Twitter suspending some users for writing ‘I hope Donald Trump dies’
As Donald Trump made his way to Walter Reed medical center for treatment on Friday, many people on Twitter, including his opponent Joe Biden, wished him a speedy recovery. Others did the opposite, saying they hope he dies from the virus, which has killed more than 200,000 people in the United States under his leadership.
Doing this violates Twitter policies, the social media platform confirmed to tech website Motherboard on Friday, and could result in suspension. Twitter’s “Abusive Behavior policy” prohibits tweets “wishing or hoping serious harm on a person or group of people.” A spokesperson from the company told Motherboard it is suspending some users but will not act on every tweet.
“We’re prioritizing the removal of content when it has a clear call to action that could potentially cause real-world harm,” the spokesperson told the publication. In light of the rule refresher, some people are finding creative ways around it.
Facebook’s rules differ slightly: users can express that they wish death upon someone as long as that person is a public figure and they are not tagged in the post. In other words, it’s OK to post that you want Trump to die as long as you do not expose Trump himself to “calls for death, serious disease, epidemic disease, or disability.”
President Trump has landed at Walter Reed hospital
There is now full video of him walking unassisted to Marine One.
As Obama sends best wishes for Trump’s health, Trump campaign blasts ‘Lyin’ Obama’As Obama sends best wishes for Trump’s health, Trump campaign blasts ‘Lyin’ Obama’
‘I think I’m doing very well,’ Trump says in video about hospitalization‘I think I’m doing very well,’ Trump says in video about hospitalization
Trump has tweeted out a video of him explaining that he’s headed to Walter Reed hospital, but reassuring Americans that he’s doing “very well.”Trump has tweeted out a video of him explaining that he’s headed to Walter Reed hospital, but reassuring Americans that he’s doing “very well.”
“We’re going to make sure that things work out,” Trump said. He added that the first lady is also “doing very well.”“We’re going to make sure that things work out,” Trump said. He added that the first lady is also “doing very well.”
As Trump heads to the hospital with coronavirus, his Democratic opponent Joe Biden is taking down negative campaign ads against Trump, the New York Times reports. Instead, the campaign will focus on “all-positive” ads.As Trump heads to the hospital with coronavirus, his Democratic opponent Joe Biden is taking down negative campaign ads against Trump, the New York Times reports. Instead, the campaign will focus on “all-positive” ads.
The decision was made before the White House announced that Trump was being hospitalized, a source tells the Times.The decision was made before the White House announced that Trump was being hospitalized, a source tells the Times.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is still sending out negative campaign ads, my colleague Oliver Laughland notes. A Trump campaign email blast went out this afternoon with the subject line ‘Lyin’ Obama.’ It accuses Biden of hiding in a basement.Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is still sending out negative campaign ads, my colleague Oliver Laughland notes. A Trump campaign email blast went out this afternoon with the subject line ‘Lyin’ Obama.’ It accuses Biden of hiding in a basement.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly sends Trump good wishesNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly sends Trump good wishes
‘This cannot be a partisan moment,’ Biden tweets as Trump heads to the hospital‘This cannot be a partisan moment,’ Biden tweets as Trump heads to the hospital
‘I have never seen so many White House staffers wearing masks’‘I have never seen so many White House staffers wearing masks’
Now that the president has been diagnosed with coronavirus, White House staffers are wearing masks in a way they did not before, CNN reporter Jeremy Diamond notes.Now that the president has been diagnosed with coronavirus, White House staffers are wearing masks in a way they did not before, CNN reporter Jeremy Diamond notes.
Trump walks to Marine One to fly to the hospitalTrump walks to Marine One to fly to the hospital
The visual of Trump striding out alone to the helicopter is likely to be seen as a reassurance that his case of coronavirus is still mild.The visual of Trump striding out alone to the helicopter is likely to be seen as a reassurance that his case of coronavirus is still mild.
The president did not stop to answer questions.The president did not stop to answer questions.
Why fly Trump to the hospital? It’s a normal choice, some experts sayWhy fly Trump to the hospital? It’s a normal choice, some experts say
Is it significant that Trump is being flown to Walter Reed in Marine One rather than taking a motorcade to the hospital?Is it significant that Trump is being flown to Walter Reed in Marine One rather than taking a motorcade to the hospital?
A former Secret Service agent says no, not really: this is a typical choice.A former Secret Service agent says no, not really: this is a typical choice.
“Flying is always the safer option,” Jonathan Wackrow wrote.“Flying is always the safer option,” Jonathan Wackrow wrote.
Journalist Yashar Ali made a similar point:Journalist Yashar Ali made a similar point:
Trump still has not left the White House
It’s been more than 45 minutes now that Marine One has been waiting on the South Lawn to fly the president to Walter Reed medical center.
How sick is Donald Trump? News of hospitalization prompts questions
White House officials have described the choice to move Trump to Walter Reed medical center as a choice made “out of an abundance of caution,” and have described him as “working from” Walter Reed for the next few days. But the move has prompted obvious questions: if the president has only “mild symptoms,” why move him to the hospital?
All eyes on Washington as reporters wait for Trump to be flown to the hospital
Reporters at the White House have been standing by as they wait for Trump to be flown to Walter Reed medical center, where he’s expected to stay for the next few days, according to White House officials.
It’s a striking contrast to months of campaign talking points that Joe Biden is not healthy enough to be president, as journalist Joshua Green notes:
Trump is not transferring power to the vice-president, Mike Pence, as he heads to the hospital for what is expected to be a few days, NBC News reports.
“The president is in charge,” a White House spokeswoman said.
“Absolutely not” another spokesperson said.
The White House has confirmed that the president will go to Walter Reed medical center and stay there for “the next few days”.
The Associated Press reported that Marine One just arrived on the White House lawn to fly Trump to Walter Reed medical center, known as the “president’s hospital”.
A White House pool reporter stationed at Walter Reed medical center in advance of the news wrote a few minutes ago that they were still awaiting the president’s arrival.
The full White House statement on the president’s hospitalization:
“President Trump remains in good spirts, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day. Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the President will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days. President Trump appreciates the outpouring of support for both he and the First Lady.”
That’s it from me on this historic Friday. My west coast colleague, Lois Beckett, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
The White House physician said Trump “remains fatigued but in good spirits” after testing positive for coronavirus. In a statement released by the White House, Dr Sean Conley said Trump was being treated with an experimental coronavirus antibody cocktail, as well as zinc, vitamin D and melatonin. The first lady, who also tested positive, “remains well with only a mild cough and headache”, Conley added.
Joe Biden said Trump’s positive test result was a “bracing reminder” of the seriousness of coronavirus. Speaking in Grand Rapids, Michigan, moments ago, Biden said, “This is not a matter of politics. It’s a bracing reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously. It’s not going away automatically.” Before traveling, the Democratic nominee and his wife, Jill, tested negative for the virus.
The Trump campaign has postponed events involving the president and his family. All of Trump’s planned events will be postponed or moved to a virtual setting. Vice-president Mike Pence, who has tested negative for coronavirus, intends to move forward with his planned campaign travel.
Supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett reportedly had coronavirus this summer and has recovered. Senate Republicans have said they still plan to hold Barrett’s confirmation hearings starting October 12, despite the health crisis in the White House.
The US unemployment rate fell to 7.9% in September. The latest report from the labor department, which was overshadowed by news of Trump contracting coronavirus, showed the US economy added just 661,000 jobs last month.
Lois will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Joe Biden closed his speech in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by once again sending his best wishes to Trump and his family.
“May God protect the First Family, and every family that is dealing with this virus,” Biden said. “And may God protect our troops.”
With that, the Democratic nominee left the podium without taking questions from reporters. Biden kept his surgical mask on for the entirety of his speech.
Biden emphasized the importance of wearing masks while delivering a speech in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Democratic nominee noted data indicates 100,000 lives could be saved in the coming months if Americans consistently wear masks.
“Be patriotic. It’s not about being a tough guy; it’s about doing your part. Wearing a mask is not only going to protect you, but it also protects those around you,” Biden said.
“Don’t just do it for yourself. Do it for the people you love, the people you work with.”
Interestingly, the Democratic nominee has kept his own surgical mask on since he started speaking. At other recent events, Biden has taken his mask off once he started speaking and put it back on after he concluded.
Joe Biden is now delivering a campaign speech in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after he tested negative for coronavirus.
The Democratic nominee apologized for his late arrival, saying he wanted to ensure they were “doing everything by the numbers” after the president announced he had contracted coronavirus.
Biden said he received two coronavirus tests this morning, both of which were negative.
“We wanted to make sure everything was clear before I came,” Biden said.
Biden also noted he canceled an event scheduled at one of his Michigan campaign offices, on the advice of health experts.
The nominee offered his prayers to the president and the first lady for a rapid recovery from coronavirus.
“My wife, Jill, and I pray that they’ll make a quick and full recovery,” Biden said.
He went on to say, “This is not a matter of politics. It’s a bracing reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously. It’s not going away automatically.”
Biden encouraged all Americans to take every possible precaution to avoid spreading the virus, including wearing masks, frequently washing their hands and practicing social distancing.
The biotechnology company Regeneron released a report earlier this week on its experimental coronavirus antibody cocktail, which the president is now taking to treat his symptoms.
CNN reports:
It’s important to note the results only involved 275 patients, and the Regeneron data has not yet been peer-reviewed.