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| US election 2020: Trump ready to return to public events, says doctor | US election 2020: Trump ready to return to public events, says doctor |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has completed his course of treatment for Covid-19 and can return to public engagements this weekend, his physician has said. | US President Donald Trump has completed his course of treatment for Covid-19 and can return to public engagements this weekend, his physician has said. |
| Dr Sean Conley said the president had responded "extremely well" to medication and had "remained stable". | Dr Sean Conley said the president had responded "extremely well" to medication and had "remained stable". |
| Mr Trump later said he would probably take another Covid test on Friday and hoped to hold a rally over the weekend. | Mr Trump later said he would probably take another Covid test on Friday and hoped to hold a rally over the weekend. |
| The president earlier pulled out of next Thursday's TV debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden. | The president earlier pulled out of next Thursday's TV debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden. |
| He said he was "not going to waste my time on a virtual debate" after organisers said it would have to take place remotely because Mr Trump had tested positive for coronavirus. | He said he was "not going to waste my time on a virtual debate" after organisers said it would have to take place remotely because Mr Trump had tested positive for coronavirus. |
| The move sparked a row about how and when further debates would take place. | The move sparked a row about how and when further debates would take place. |
| Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the most powerful Democrat in Washington, on Friday announced legislation to establish a commission to assess Mr Trump's fitness for office. | |
| A statement on the move said the commission would be set up under the 25th Amendment, which outlines how a sitting president can be stripped of power if they are deemed unable to conduct the duties of the office. | |
| Previewing the legislation on Thursday, Mrs Pelosi told reporters that serious questions concerning Mr Trump's health were still unanswered, and described the president as being in an "altered state". | |
| Any serious consideration of the measure is unlikely, but it will serve as a political tool to raise questions about Mr Trump's health. | Any serious consideration of the measure is unlikely, but it will serve as a political tool to raise questions about Mr Trump's health. |
| Mr Trump called Ms Pelosi "crazy" and said she was "the one who should be under observation". | Mr Trump called Ms Pelosi "crazy" and said she was "the one who should be under observation". |
| Why is the 25th Amendment being talked about? | Why is the 25th Amendment being talked about? |
| The amendment was introduced after the 1963 assassination of President John F Kennedy to clarify issues around the transfer of presidential powers. | The amendment was introduced after the 1963 assassination of President John F Kennedy to clarify issues around the transfer of presidential powers. |
| The Democrats are focusing on a clause - Section Four - allowing a president to be removed from office against their will because of physical or mental incapacity. | The Democrats are focusing on a clause - Section Four - allowing a president to be removed from office against their will because of physical or mental incapacity. |
| The powers of the president have been temporarily transferred before - such as when Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in 1981 and George HW Bush took over - but Section Four has never been invoked. | The powers of the president have been temporarily transferred before - such as when Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in 1981 and George HW Bush took over - but Section Four has never been invoked. |
| The amendment says it can only be used if the vice-president plus either a majority of the 15 US cabinet secretaries or another body, like Congress, agrees. Even then, the president can appeal. | The amendment says it can only be used if the vice-president plus either a majority of the 15 US cabinet secretaries or another body, like Congress, agrees. Even then, the president can appeal. |
| It seems the Democrats - meeting later on Friday - are planning to set up the mechanisms that would enable Congress to have its say on whether the president is unable to discharge his powers. | It seems the Democrats - meeting later on Friday - are planning to set up the mechanisms that would enable Congress to have its say on whether the president is unable to discharge his powers. |
| But really, it's being seen as a political move to stoke questions about Mr Trump's health. There's no sign that Vice-President Mike Pence would agree with them, and little legislative time to move the commission forward. | But really, it's being seen as a political move to stoke questions about Mr Trump's health. There's no sign that Vice-President Mike Pence would agree with them, and little legislative time to move the commission forward. |
| On Friday, Mrs Pelosi said the move was "not about President Trump". | |
| "He will face the judgment of the voters. But he shows the need for us to create a process for future presidents." | |
| What's the latest on Trump's health? | What's the latest on Trump's health? |
| Speaking on Fox News late on Thursday, Mr Trump said he was feeling "really good" and hoped to hold a campaign rally on Saturday evening, possibly in Florida. | Speaking on Fox News late on Thursday, Mr Trump said he was feeling "really good" and hoped to hold a campaign rally on Saturday evening, possibly in Florida. |
| The president was also heard clearing his throat and coughing during the interview. At one point, he appeared to mute his mic after needing to clear his throat. | The president was also heard clearing his throat and coughing during the interview. At one point, he appeared to mute his mic after needing to clear his throat. |
| Earlier this week, Dr Conley had said that if the president's condition remained the same or improved throughout the weekend and into Monday, "we will all take that final, deep sigh of relief". | |
| Although the names of many people who have interacted with the president and tested positive are now known, it remains unclear just how many were exposed at the White House. New Covid safety measures are in place there. | |
| One of the top Republicans, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, said on Thursday that he had not been to the White House since 6 August because its approach to handling Covid with social distancing and masks was "different from mine and what I suggested we do in the Senate". | One of the top Republicans, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, said on Thursday that he had not been to the White House since 6 August because its approach to handling Covid with social distancing and masks was "different from mine and what I suggested we do in the Senate". |
| Why the focus on Trump's testing? | |
| The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends self-isolating for 10 days after a positive test. The CDC also says isolation could end earlier after "two negative test results in a row, from tests done at least 24 hours apart". | |
| Questions remain about when the president first became infected and whether he could still be contagious. | |
| In a memo released by the White House on Thursday evening, Dr Conley said Mr Trump was displaying no signs "to suggest progression of illness". | |
| "Saturday will be day 10 since [last] Thursday's diagnosis, and based on the trajectory of advanced diagnostics the team has been conducting, I fully anticipate the president's safe return to public engagements at that time," the memo added. | |
| Mr Trump avoided questions while speaking to Fox News on Thursday about whether he had been tested recently, but said he would probably be tested on Friday. | |
| We know Mr Trump tested positive for Covid-19 last Thursday night, according to his doctors. We do not know when his last negative test was, however. On Monday, Dr Conley also avoided questions about it. | |
| As a result, some have wondered whether the president was getting regularly tested at all. | |
| What's going on with the debate row? | What's going on with the debate row? |
| The back-and-forth between the two campaigns over the next presidential debate began when the debate commission announced the next meet-up would have to be held virtually. | The back-and-forth between the two campaigns over the next presidential debate began when the debate commission announced the next meet-up would have to be held virtually. |
| Mr Trump refused to attend it. | Mr Trump refused to attend it. |
| Mr Biden has proposed that the town-hall debate format meant for next week should instead take place during the third debate, on 22 October. | Mr Biden has proposed that the town-hall debate format meant for next week should instead take place during the third debate, on 22 October. |
| The Trump team responded by saying a third in-person debate ought to be held five days before Election Day, on 29 October - a notion the Biden campaign rejected. | The Trump team responded by saying a third in-person debate ought to be held five days before Election Day, on 29 October - a notion the Biden campaign rejected. |
| On Thursday, Mr Trump's campaign said that the president was willing to debate Mr Biden, in-person, on 15 October as originally scheduled. | On Thursday, Mr Trump's campaign said that the president was willing to debate Mr Biden, in-person, on 15 October as originally scheduled. |
| The campaign added that Mr Trump would be medically cleared days before, meaning there would be "no medical reason" why the debate would have to be virtual. | The campaign added that Mr Trump would be medically cleared days before, meaning there would be "no medical reason" why the debate would have to be virtual. |
| For now, Mr Biden plans take part in his own primetime event on ABC answering questions from voters in lieu of the 15 October debate. | For now, Mr Biden plans take part in his own primetime event on ABC answering questions from voters in lieu of the 15 October debate. |
| The US election will be held on 3 November. | The US election will be held on 3 November. |
| Latest opinion polls suggest that Mr Biden's lead has increased since the chaotic first debate and the president's coronavirus diagnosis. | Latest opinion polls suggest that Mr Biden's lead has increased since the chaotic first debate and the president's coronavirus diagnosis. |
| Six million ballots have already been cast in early voting. | Six million ballots have already been cast in early voting. |