US President, Donald Trump on Friday announced on Twitter that he and the First Lady, Melania, have tested positive for COVID-19 and would commence quarantine immediately.
Although, his doctor has described Trump’s health as “well” and able to perform his duties while quarantining, but upcoming campaign appearances have been affected.
The extraordinary setback for Trump had immediate political consequences just 32 days before election day.
His challenger, Democrat Joe Biden, is well ahead in the polls and is making criticism of the Republican’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic a key plank in his campaign.
Trump, in response, has been betting on an evermore aggressive schedule of campaign rallies around the country — bringing together thousands of people, often without masks.
Early Friday the White House canceled his planned campaign rally in the crucial swing state of Florida later in the day.
It also looked certain that Trump would have to cancel a trip scheduled for this weekend in Wisconsin, another battleground. He had also been expected to travel frequently next week, including longer distances to western states.
A second televised debate with Biden is scheduled for October 15.
Trump’s official physician, Sean Conley, said in a statement that the president and his wife “are both well at this time and they plan to remain home at the White House during their convalescence.”
Conley said: “I expect the president to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering.”
Infected close aide
The shocking news came right after one of Trump’s closest advisors, Hope Hicks, was reported Thursday to have come down with the virus.
Hicks traveled with Trump to Cleveland for his first debate with Biden on Tuesday. She was with him again for a campaign rally in Minnesota on Wednesday.
With Hicks sharing Trump’s Air Force One plane and the even more cramped confines of the Marine One helicopter, speculation immediately erupted that Trump and possibly many others in his close entourage were exposed.
Despite Hicks’ diagnosis, Trump took another Air Force One trip on Thursday to meet with donors in New Jersey.
It was only late Thursday that Trump confirmed media reports about Hicks while giving an interview to Fox News. He announced that he had been tested but did not say whether he had received the results.
“You know I spend a lot of time with Hope, and so does the first lady,” Trump said.
