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Reuters
President Trump appointed O’Brien his adviser in September last year
President Donald Trump’s national security adviser Robert O’Brien tested positive for coronavirus, the White House confirmed.
O’Brien, 54, has self-isolated and works from home.
The aide has mild symptoms and there was no risk of exposure to Mr. Trump or Vice President Mike Pence, a statement said.
O’Brien is the highest-ranking official in the Trump administration known to have tested positive.
It is unclear when he and the president last met, but an administration official said it had not been for “several days.” The couple appeared together two weeks ago on a trip to Miami.
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The White House statement said: “He has mild symptoms and has isolated himself and works from a safe off-site location. There is no risk of exposure to the President or Vice President. The work of the National Security Council continues uninterrupted.”
Some staff members told CNN that they had only learned of the infection Monday from the media.
A source told Bloomberg that Mr. O’Brien had been out of his office for a week and that the adviser had contracted the virus after a family event.
Anyone close to the President is regularly tested for Covid-19.
Several people in and around the administration have tested positive, including a military member who works as a White House valet, Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, and a Marine helicopter squad.
Who Is Robert O’Brien?
Trained as a lawyer, he has had a long diplomatic career working for both Republicans and Democrats. He is believed to be the highest-ranking Mormon member of the Trump administration.
He was chosen to replace John Bolton as national security adviser last September, after Bolton left in the midst of a spiteful fight with President Trump.
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O’Brien shares similar views to Trump on a number of issues, including criticism of the UN and opposition to the nuclear deal with Iran.
O’Brien traveled to Paris this month to discuss foreign policy issues with his European counterparts, and delivered a speech in Arizona in June comparing Chinese President Xi Jinping to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
