Tag: Trump COVID-19 diagnosis

The Memo: Trump grapples with credibility gap in crisis

The Hill logo

The Trump administration’s credibility problems are coming home to roost in the middle of a growing national crisis, now that President Trump has been hospitalized with COVID-19.

Washington and the wider world were aflame with gossip and conspiracy theories Friday as it became apparent that Trump’s condition was more serious than had first been acknowledged. He left the White House in Marine One, bound for Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, shortly after 6 p.m.

Attempts to steady the ship of state by the White House were not successful. Much of the blame for that lies in an apparent attempt to underplay the health challenges the president faces, and the administration’s longer record of misleading statements on a multitude of topics. Continue reading.

The White House released photos of Trump at work, raising more questions about his health

Amid mixed messages on the president’s health, the White House released photos of Trump working that some critics say were staged.

President Donald Trump, who has been receiving treatment for the coronavirus at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center since Friday, released two photographs late Saturday meant to suggest that he is recuperating rapidly, but those images — which came following a peculiar press conference and mixed health assessments from White House staff — have been met with scrutiny, undercutting the message the president hoped to send.

In the first photo, Trump is dressed in a suit, seated at a round table inside the hospital’s designated presidential suite, appearing to review a document. In the other, he is dressed in a crisp white shirt, seated at the end of a long table inside a conference room, looking over folders of documents.

Both photos were taken by White House photographer Joyce N. Boghosian.

The photos began to draw criticism on social media shortly after their release, with many users pointing out that it is unclear what Trump is actually doing in the images. In the first, he appears to simply sign his name in the center of an otherwise blank piece of paper. In the second, the folders and a black binder appear to be empty. Continue reading.

Here’s a list of White House officials who’ve been exposed to Trump — and will need to quarantine

AlterNet logo

President Donald Trump testing positive for coronavirus has caused quite a shake-up in the White House as several officials and staff members will now be forced to quarantine in an effort to mitigate the spread of the virus. 

As reports began circulating about Trump’s White House advisor Hope Hicks testing positive, concerns were raised about the president and all of the other people who could have possibly contracted coronavirus after being in close proximity with Hicks. Not long after Hicks’ results were made public, it was confirmed that Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had also tested positive.

On Tuesday, several members of Trump’s administration traveled with him and Hicks to Cleveland, Ohio for the first presidential debate. During the event, Hicks and multiple members of Trump’s family were seen in close proximity of each other without masks. Continue reading.

Trump to spend ‘a few days’ at Walter Reed after COVID-19 diagnosis

President is experiencing symptoms and taking an experimental antibody cocktail

President Donald Trump is heading to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what the White House says is a precaution after he tested positive for COVID-19 and began experiencing symptoms.

“President Trump remains in good [spirits], 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,” White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement Friday.

Trump is traveling to the military medical complex aboard Marine One, which is the way presidents often travel to the facility in nearby Bethesda, Maryland. Continue reading.

Trump takes an experimental COVID drug as reports emerge about his true symptoms

AlterNet logo

President Donald Trump has taken an experimental drug treatment for his newly diagnosed case of COVID-19, the White House announced Friday afternoon. 

Sean Conley, the president’s physician, explained in a memo that Trump has “received a single 8 gram dose of Regeneron’s polyclonal antibody cocktail.” Conley referred to this as a “precautionary measure.” He said the president took the dose “without incident,” and noted that the president is also taking “zinc, vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin, and a daily aspirin.”

He described the president as “fatigued but in good spirits,” while First Lady Melania Trump — also diagnosed with the disease caused by the coronavirus — “remains well with only a mild cough and headache.” No one else in the president’s family has tested positive for the virus. Continue reading.

This is exactly why we need to know the truth about Trump’s health

Washington Post logo

With the news that the president of the United States has been infected by the virus that has killed more than 200,000 Americans, the consequences of this White House’s propensity to lie take on a new level of seriousness.

Public confidence demands that Americans be given the straight story about President Trump’s condition. This is also a matter of national security, as U.S. allies and adversaries around the world monitor the situation.

Over and over again on issues of Trump’s health, the president’s aides have shown more concern for stroking Trump’s ego and furthering his political agenda than telling the truth. Continue reading.

Trump’s test shows how COVID-19 might threaten Barrett confirmation

Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican member of Senate Judiciary, has tested posted for COVID-19

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that President Donald Trump’s positive COVID-19 case underscores that the coronavirus is the biggest threat to the confirmation of the current Supreme Court nominee. 

Democrats procedurally can’t do anything to stop a confirmation vote on the Senate floor before the Nov. 3 presidential election, McConnell told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

But with a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, and two Republicans already saying they opposed a confirmation vote for Trump nominee Amy Coney Barrett so close to the election, McConnell has a thin margin for a vote. Continue reading.

Trump’s test sparks fears of spread: Here’s who he met in last week

The Hill logo

President Trump’s positive coronavirus test is raising immediate questions about the spread of the disease given his packed schedule and events with, among others, his nominee to the Supreme Court and his rival for the White House.

Just this week, Trump attended the first presidential debate, held meetings with top aides, spoke at a campaign rally and traveled to a fundraiser.

Depending on when Trump was first exposed, dozens of people may be at risk. Trump has repeatedly downplayed the risks of the virus, and he and his staff often do not wear masks.  Continue reading.

Carl Bernstein Warns That Trump’s COVID-19 Diagnosis Creates National Security Threat

The CNN political analyst listed the threats looming after the president announced he had contracted the coronavirus.

Carl Bernstein said early Friday that the United States is “in the midst of a national security crisis” following President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis. The CNN political analyst listed several threats that could intensify, including Russian exploitation, cyber-manipulation of the markets and domestic unrest.

“This is DEFCON 1 in terms of the health of the people in the United States, in terms of our political health, in terms of our stability,” he told CNN host Don Lemon. 

Trump tweeted overnight that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus, after confirmation that White House aide Hope Hicks had tested positive. Continue reading.

Joe Biden Tests Negative For Coronavirus After Trump Announces He Is Infected

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s campaign announced on Friday afternoon that he and wife Jill Biden were both tested for coronavirus with negative results. 

Their announcement followed hours of uproar over President Donald Trump’s tweet announcing that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for the virus yesterday — along with White House aide Hope Hicks. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters that the president has “mild symptoms” but is “overall feeling good.” View the post here.