Trump Posts Video Saying He ‘Feels Much Better’ Amid Conflicting Reports About His Condition

Source: TheJournal.ie/YouTube

US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has said he feels “much better” amid conflicting reports about his condition after being admitted to the hospital with Covid-19.

The president’s medical team said he was “very well” and “exceptionally in good spirits” in an update yesterday, less than 24 hours after he was taken by helicopter to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center near Washington DC.

However, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows briefed reporters shortly after, saying that Trump went through a “very worrying” period on Friday and that the next 48 hours would be critical.

The president himself later posted a video on Twitter from his hospital suite, saying he was feeling “much better now” and hoped to “be back soon.”

At a news conference outside the hospital, Dr. Sean Conley said that the president did not have a fever, was not taking oxygen, and was not short of breath.

Dr. Conley declined to say whether Trump had ever taken oxygen despite repeated questioning, but said the president’s symptoms, including a cough and nasal congestion, “are now resolving and improving.”

A source familiar with Trump’s condition told the Associated Press that the president was administered supplemental oxygen at the White House on Friday before going to the hospital.

Dr. Conley’s optimistic assessment contrasted the subsequent assessment by Meadows, although Trump himself said in his video message that he was feeling better, although the “next few days” would be revealing in his battle with the disease.

“I came here, I didn’t feel so good, I feel a lot better now,” Trump said.

“It is not known in the next few days, I suppose that is the real test. So we’ll see what happens in the next few days. “

There was also confusion about when the president tested positive, with Dr. Conley initially suggesting that Trump had 72 hours left to diagnose.

Dr. Conley later clarified that he meant “day three” instead of 72 hours, and said the president had been first diagnosed with Covid-19 on Thursday night.

The White House said the 74-year-old would work from the hospital’s presidential suite, which is equipped to allow him to continue his official duties.

Shortly after Dr. Conley’s update on Saturday, Trump tweeted: “The doctors, nurses and EVERYONE at the GREAT Walter Reed Medical Center, and others from equally amazing institutions that have joined them, are AMAZING !!! Tremendous progress has been made in the last 6 months in the fight against this PLAGUE. With your help, I feel good! ”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was confident the president “will get through” his treatment “very well.”

Speaking to reporters Saturday morning, Johnson said he called the White House on Friday night and added: “I think obviously everyone wishes him and Melania well and hopes they will recover quickly and not I have no doubt that it will. ” I will make a very strong recovery. “

When asked if he had any advice for Trump, Johnson added: “I think he will do exactly what the doctors tell him to do and I am confident that he will receive the best possible care.”

Trump’s Covid-19 diagnosis is the latest among world leaders, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and the EU’s top Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier have also fallen ill.