Americans woke up this morning to the news that U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The POTUS broke the news on his Twitter page, just hours after revealing that he and the First Lady were having tests following the positive diagnosis of one of his top aides Hope Hicks.
Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible! The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” he tweeted.
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
Melania added on her Twitter page: “As too many Americans have done this year, @potus & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together.”
Both Trump and his wife are exhibiting mild, flu-like symptoms, according to Fox News sources. Trump, 74, was described as “lethargic” at an event last night.
But the White House expects both the President and First Lady to recover without any ill effects. They will also have immunity against this particular strain of the COVID virus going forward.
The president and the First Lady are quarantining for the next two weeks. It is unclear if Trump will attend the second debate with Democratic candidate Joe Biden next week.
Trump’s critics seemed to gloat over the news that he has contracted the virus.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement:
“The president testing positive for the coronavirus should serve as a wake up call to every single American. The virus doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, Republican or Democrat, young or old. No one is immune, not even the president.”
Trump isn’t the first politician to contract the virus. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, Iran’s deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and Republican Senator Rand Paul are among the other bold name politicians to have tested positive for the coronavirus.
