Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, said Friday that the president has “mild symptoms” after testing positive for Covid-19 and is “very energetic.”
“The president and the First Lady tested positive for Covid-19,” he told CNN. “They are still in a good mood.
“The president has mild symptoms, and as we seek to try to make sure that not only his health, safety and well-being are good, we continue to look at that for the entire American people.”
Trump said early Friday that he tested positive along with his wife and one of his closest aides, plunging his campaign into deeper chaos just a month before the election.
Meadows said he tested negative himself, along with other close Trump associates, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
“The American people can rest assured that we have a president who is not only at work, but will stay at work,” Meadows told reporters, without wearing a mask. “I am optimistic that you will have a very fast and fast recovery.”
National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said he tested negative for the coronavirus, joining Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in avoiding Covid-19 so far.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about a new stimulus package this week have yet to overcome the stalemate that has persisted for months, said things could turn to root of Trump infection.
“This changes the dynamic,” Pelosi said on MSNBC on Friday. He criticized the Trump administration for paying insufficient attention to containing the coronavirus, saying the current situation may change the White House’s stance on pandemic relief.
“Maybe this is the time when people will say, okay, masks, sanitation, treatment,” he said. “It could be a learning experience,” she said of the news. The speaker said that he took the test on Friday morning and awaits the results.
Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, sent their good wishes to Trump and first lady Melania Trump after they tested positive for coronavirus.
“Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a speedy recovery. We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the President and his family, “Biden tweeted.
Biden and Trump squared off in a debate Tuesday night. Biden has criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris tweeted her wishes for a “speedy recovery.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, one of the world leaders who has ruled from home while in isolation during the pandemic, said he hoped Trump would recover soon and “make a full recovery from this virus.”
Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, tested negative for coronavirus on Friday, according to his assistant Devin O’Malley.
“As has been the routine for months, Vice President Pence is tested for COVID-19 every day. This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19. Vice President Pence is in good health and wishes the Trumps the best in their recovery, “O’Malley tweeted.
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