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US President Donald Trump is preparing to return to the election campaign with two possible demonstrations over the weekend after his Covid-19 diagnosis sidelined him for a week in the race for the White House against Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
But doubts remained as to whether he was still contagious and whether his campaign, whose leadership has also been hit hard by the coronavirus, could kick things off on short notice.
Trump, who announced on October 2 that he had the virus and spent three nights in a military hospital, said last night that he was feeling “really good” and was aiming to campaign in Florida tomorrow and in Pennsylvania on Sunday.
White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said today that the president was working hard and ready to go as soon as he got the go-ahead from his doctor.
“He wants to talk to the American people and he wants to be out there. Logistically, if it’s possible tomorrow, it would be difficult. It would be a campaign decision,” he told Fox News.
Representatives for the campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on their plans.
Opinion polls show Trump lagging behind with Biden before the Nov. 3 election and the president’s illness has prevented him from touring the country to gather support and raise cash.
Trump and his administration have faced criticism for their broad handling of the pandemic, as well as a lax approach to mask wearing and social distancing in the White House and, in recent days, mixed messages about how ill the president has been. .
White House physician Sean Conley said in a memo released yesterday that Trump had completed his treatment for Covid-19, remained stable since returning home from Walter Reed Medical Center on Monday, and could resume his public engagements tomorrow. .
“Medical tests are underway that will ensure that when the president returns, he will not be able to transmit the virus,” McEnany said, adding that Dr. Conley would explain the details later.
“It will not be out there if it can transmit the virus.”
Ms McEnany is one of a number of Trump aides, including his campaign manager, who tested positive for an outbreak of the virus in the past week within the White House and the Trump campaign.
Trump was scheduled to do an on-camera interview with Fox News tonight, his first since he was diagnosed.
Fittingly, given that he is a former reality star, Fox said in a press release that Dr. Marc Siegel “will conduct a medical evaluation and interview during the show.”
Trump told the network last night that he will likely be tested for the virus today. The White House has declined to say when it last tested negative for the disease.
Guidelines issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that people who are seriously ill with Covid-19 may need to stay home for up to 20 days after the first symptoms appear.
Trump, who has not appeared in public since he returned from the hospital, worked from the Oval Office on Wednesday. The White House said officials it came into contact with, such as Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, wore personal protective equipment.
Biden has continued to campaign during Trump’s illness, with events scheduled for today in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The former vice president, who has harshly criticized Trump’s handling of the pandemic, leads national polls, albeit with a smaller lead in some of the swing states that may determine the outcome of the election.
Hoarsely, occasionally pausing and clearing his throat, Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity in an interview last night that he was doing well.
The president is expected to host a “virtual rally” today by participating in conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh’s radio show.
The Trump and Biden campaigns were contested yesterday during a televised debate that had been planned for next week.
Trump withdrew from the event scheduled for Oct. 15 after the nonpartisan debate committee said it would take place virtually, with the candidates in separate venues, due to security concerns after Trump contracted Covid-19.
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