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Donald Trump received an immediate reprimand from doctors Sunday afternoon for a “crazy” surprise visit to supporters outside the Walter Reed military medical center, where the president is being treated for a Covid-19 infection.
At least two other people, likely Secret Service agents, wearing respirators and eye protection, were seen on video in the vehicle accompanying Trump, who was also masked, during the short trip.
James Phillips, a doctor of emergency medicine at George Washington University who is Walter Reed’s primary care physician, called the stunt “insane.”
“Every person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary presidential ‘step ahead’ now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They can get sick. They can die, “he wrote. in a tweet.
“For political theater. Sent by Trump to put their lives at risk for the theater. This is crazy “.
In a second tweetPhillips added: “That presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, it is hermetically sealed against chemical attack. The risk of COVID19 transmission indoors is as high as outside of medical procedures. The irresponsibility is amazing. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play. “
Jonathan Reiner, professor of medicine and surgery at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Services, he said in a tweet: “By taking a joyous walk in front of Walter Reed, the President is putting his Secret Service detachment at serious risk.”
“In the hospital, when we come into close contact with a COVID patient, we put on full PPE: gown, gloves, N95, eye protection, hat. This is the height of irresponsibility. “
Trump signaled his intention to visit his flag-waving supporters at a own video tweet, released just moments before a cavalcade of black SUVs ripped through the gates of Maryland’s medical center. Trump was seen waving animatedly through a fully closed window, before the vehicles returned to the hospital grounds.
“This is the real school,” Trump said in the video, describing his experience with Covid-19 and his second full day at Walter Reed after being admitted on Friday. “I understand it and I understand it. [It is] something very interesting and I’ll let you know. “
Questions also arose about who in the White House knew or authorized the stunt. Reporters in the White House press group had been told there would be no more presidential activity on Sunday.
James Clapper, a former director of national intelligence, said on CNN that the moment was “pure Trump.”
“President [is] always a showman and concerned about optics, “he said. “Hopefully this fits his rate of improvement.”
Clapper added: “This will be of great interest to foreign countries, friends and adversaries alike. At least temporarily, this is a good message. “
As recently as Friday, Secret Service agents were expressing anger at how Trump’s perceived recklessness was putting them at risk.
“He never cared about us,” an agent told an informant, according to the Washington Post.
The newspaper said some agents had become convinced in recent months that the president was unaware they were in danger, citing as evidence a policy that agents who were on duty at Trump rallies were no longer scrutinized. routine when they returned home.
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