United States President Trump, who has COVID-19, greets supporters on a short trip outside Walter Reed Hospital where he is being treated. [Alex Edelman/AFP]
Despite testing positive for coronavirus, Trump thought it was okay to leave the hospital in a closed SUV with about two people with him.
News18.com
Last update: October 5, 2020 3:49 PM IST
FOLLOW US:
US President Donald Trump, who tested positive for coronavirus and had to be hospitalized last week, left the hospital briefly to greet his supporters. The move is seen to indicate that the president continues to ignore basic precautions to contain the virus that has killed more than 209,000 Americans.
Hours earlier, Trump’s medical team reported that his blood oxygen level suddenly dropped twice in recent days and that they gave him a steroid that is generally only recommended for the very sick. Doctors also said Trump’s health is improving and that he could be discharged from the hospital on Monday.
However, Trump thought it was okay to leave the hospital in a closed van with about two people with him. It is quite possible that his actions have unnecessarily endangered members of the Secret Service.
Trump, since the beginning of the pandemic, has downplayed the risks of the virus. In fact, a few days before testing positive for coronavirus, he said it affects virtually no one. Despite the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control repeatedly issuing warnings on how to keep the virus at bay, Trump condemned the wearing of masks and even mocked those who wore them. Trump was first seen wearing a mask in public in July, when the pandemic had already affected 3.2 million Americans.
In a short video released by the White House, Trump insisted he understood the gravity of the moment. “I get it,” he said. But, really? Their actions moments later, as they left the hospital and sat inside the van with others, suggested otherwise.
READ: Donald Trump testing positive for coronavirus has only one lesson: wear a mask
READ: Trump says ‘I get it’ after Covid-19 diagnosis, then briefly leaves hospital to greet supporters
“This is crazy,” said Dr. James P. Phillips, Walter Reed’s GP who is a critic of Trump and his handling of the pandemic. “Every person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary presidential ‘step’ now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They can get sick. They may die “.
“For political theater,” added the doctor. “Ordered by Trump to risk their lives for the theater”.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump’s trip out of the hospital “was cleared by the medical team as insurance.” He added that precautions, including the use of personal protective equipment, were taken to protect Trump, as well as White House officials and Secret Service agents.
Trump’s “stunt,” as it is called, did not really have the desired effect. Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Trump demanded that his agents take him for a ride, risking their lives, so he could greet his followers. Crazy doesn’t come close.
– Henrik Brønning 🇪🇺 # 3.5% # Biden2020 (@br_nning) October 5, 2020
TRUMP: Yeah take me (* cough *) around the block quick (* cough *) so I can (* cough *) so I can (* cough *) so I can say hi to errbody
Seven months after the global pandemic that killed 200,000 Americans, Trump says he now “understands” COVID after contracting it, then immediately gets into a car with at least 2 other people to greet people.
The infected Trump ignores CDC advice and takes a walk to greet Trump loyalists who are not socially estranged, which could expose multiple Secret Service agents to # COVID-19.
“I get it,” Trump says of the severity of the virus, before getting into a car with Secret Service agents and exposing them to the virus so he can greet 12 people on the side of the road.
It’s great that Trump puts his secret service at risk of being an accessory so he can salute the proud kids and fans of QAnon outside of Walter Reed https://t.co/MFcTUMlII8
Trump has gotten into a car so he can greet his supporters outside of Walter Reed. As you can see from the pictures, this meant that multiple agents were riding in a car with Trump while he was carrying the coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/FIk4CtApnu
Also, updates on Trump’s health have been very vague so far.
His doctors avoided questions Sunday about exactly when the oxygen in Trump’s blood dropped, an episode they did not mention in multiple statements the day before, or whether lung scans showed any damage.
It was the second consecutive day of obfuscation of a White House already suffering a credibility crisis. And it raised further questions about whether the doctors treating the president were sharing accurate and timely information with the American public about the severity of his condition.
![US President Trump, who has COVID-19, greets supporters on a short trip outside of Walter Reed Hospital where he is being treated. [Alex Edelman/AFP]](https://images.news18.com/ibnlive/uploads/2020/10/1601880143_untitled-design-71.jpg?impolicy=website&width=534&height=356 "United States President Trump, who has COVID-19, greets supporters on a short trip outside Walter Reed Hospital where he is being treated. [Alex Edelman/AFP]")
