President Donald Trump Tests Positive for COVID-19

Cate McCusker, Co-News Editor

Early this morning, President Donald Trump announced that he tested positive for the coronavirus.

On the evening of Thursday, Oct. 1, Trump tweeted that he and First Lady Melania Trump would begin the “quarantine process,” as they awaited test results following news that senior advisor Hope Hicks tested positive for COVID-19. At 12:54 a.m. on Friday morning, Trump announced his test results.

“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” Trump tweeted.

This news comes at a crucial time in the presidential campaign, with only 32 days before the presidential election on Nov. 3. Although the White House has not announced how long Trump will remain in quarantine, he will likely lose a lot of important campaign time.

According to The New York Times, “If he becomes sick, it could raise questions about whether he should remain on the ballot at all.”

Nothing has been announced about the next presidential debate on Oct. 15th in Miami.

For months, Trump has been criticized for his stance on the safety of the virus, holding several in-person rallies and downplaying the seriousness of wearing a mask. Trump also told an audience that “the end of the pandemic is in sight,” at a dinner on Thursday night, hours before testing positive for COVID-19.

At 1:27 a.m today, Melania Trump tweeted that she and the president were “feeling good.” However, at 74 years old, President Trump is at high risk.

According to the CDC, “8 out of 10 COVID-19-related deaths reported in the United States have been among adults aged 65 years and older.”

The virus has already claimed the lives of over 207,000 Americans, and many fear for the safety of Trump.

This morning, press secretary Devin O’Malley tweeted that both Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence have tested negative for the coronavirus.

“As has been routine for months, Vice President Pence is tested for COVID-19 every day,” O’Malley tweeted. “This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19. Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery.”

Former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden could also be in danger of having contracted the virus. Trump and Biden debated on Tuesday evening, across the stage from each other and Chris Wallace. This debate occurred just days before Trump tested positive.

CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta stated that Biden needs to be tested as soon as possible.

“He does need to be immediately tested,” Gupta said to CNN. “He has come in proximity to someone that has COVID.”

No information on Biden has been released yet.