By WILLIAM MANSELL and EMILY SHAPIRO, ABC News
(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are in isolation with what some are calling “mild” symptoms after announcing overnight that they tested positive for COVID-19.
White House Dr. Sean Conley wrote in a memorandum: “This evening I received confirmation that both President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain home at the White House during their convalescence.”
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19,” Trump tweeted overnight. “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
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
Following a rally that Trump cut short on Wednesday, top aides observed the president not feeling his best, as he appeared exhausted and fatigued, multiple sources told ABC News. Given the intensity of his rally schedule, some believed his fatigue stemmed from being on the road, while others began to think it could be coronavirus.
The first lady tweeted, “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.”
While it is not clear how Trump, 74, contracted COVID-19, the news comes just four hours after it was revealed that one of the president’s closest advisers, Hope Hicks, had also tested positive.
Hicks traveled with Trump to Ohio for the debate on Tuesday and to Minnesota for a rally on Wednesday.
Hicks was also on Marine One, the president’s helicopter, when it left the White House to fly to Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday. She was seen walking to the helicopter with fellow top presidential advisers, such as Stephen Miller, Dan Scavino and Jared Kushner. None of them were wearing masks.
ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl reports that Hicks is experiencing symptoms.
“Not only did she test positive but we’ve also been told that she is symptomatic,” Karl said Friday. “She is sick.”
In light of Trump’s positive coronavirus test, the president has canceled Friday’s rally. His only scheduled event is a closed press call on COVID-19 support to “vulnerable seniors.”
After holding an indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June that was lightly attended, the Trump campaign paused official rallies until mid-August. Since then, however, Trump has held 20 rallies. He held 15 rallies in September alone.
Here is how the news is developing on Friday. All times Eastern:
1:10 p.m.: Notre Dame president tests positive after visiting White House
Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the university. He had been self-quarantining after he “learned that a colleague with whom he has been in regular contact tested positive for COVID-19,” it said.
“My symptoms are mild and I will continue work from home,” he said in a statement.
Jenkins was at the White House on Saturday when Trump announced Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court nominee. He had been criticized for not wearing a mask at the White House event and later apologized.
At least four other people at Saturday’s event in the Rose Garden have also tested positive: the president and first lady, adviser Hope Hicks and Sen. Mike Lee.
1:05 p.m.: DNC Chair Tom Perez, who was in front row at debate, tests negative for COVID-19
Chair of the Democratic National Committee Tom Perez, who sat in the front row at Tuesday night’s presidential debate, has tested negative for COVID-19, a source familiar with the situation confirms to ABC News.
12:20 p.m.: Biden, Harris test negative
The Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his wife, Jill Biden, tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday, their primary care physician said.
Biden said he is wishing for a “swift recovery” for Trump and the first lady, tweeting Friday morning, “We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family.”
Biden is scheduled to attend a Friday afternoon event in Michigan.
Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff also tested negative on Friday and will continue on their planned travel to Las Vegas and Greensboro, North Carolina, respectively, according to a Harris aide.
On Tuesday night, while on the debate stage in Cleveland, Trump mocked Biden for wearing masks.
“I don’t wear masks like him. Every time you see him, he’s got a mask,” Trump said. “He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.”
12:05 p.m.: Sen. Mike Lee tests positive for coronavirus days after visiting White House
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, says he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Lee was at the White House on Saturday when Amy Coney Barrett was announced as Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. Lee then met with Barrett on Tuesday.
“Unlike the test I took just a few days ago while visiting the White House, yesterday’s test came back positive,” Lee tweeted Friday. “On advice of the Senate attending physician, I will remain isolated for the next 10 days.”
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 2, 2020
10:55 a.m.: Trump has ‘mild symptoms,’ chief of staff says
Trump has “mild symptoms,” White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters Friday morning.
Trump is “not only in good spirits but very energetic,” Meadows said.
“I’m optimistic that he’ll have a very quick and speedy recovery,” he added.
Dr. Scott Atlas, special adviser on coronavirus to the president, told Fox News Friday morning that he expects Trump and the first lady to make a “complete, full and rapid recovery.”
“I anticipate he’ll be back on the road and in full swing,” Atlas said.
In light of Trump’s positive coronavirus test, the president has canceled Friday’s rally.
After holding an indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June that was lightly attended, the Trump campaign paused official rallies until mid-August. Since then, however, Trump has held 20 rallies. He held 15 rallies in September alone.
10:30 a.m.: Amy Coney Barrett tests negative
A senior White House official said Judge Amy Coney Barrett tested negative for the coronavirus Friday and has been testing negative during daily tests.
Barrett has spent significant time lately with the White House Chief of Staff and White House counsel, along with other White House officials.
9:35 a.m.: Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump test negative
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday, White House spokeswoman Carolina Hurley tweeted.
8:45 a.m.: Biden says he’s wishing for a ‘swift recovery’
On Tuesday night, Trump was on the debate stage in Cleveland with the Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden.
At the debate, Trump mocked Biden for wearing masks.
“I don’t wear masks like him. Every time you see him, he’s got a mask,” Trump said Tuesday. “He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.”
Pres. Trump mocks Joe Biden on the issue of masks: “I don’t wear masks like him. Every time you see him, he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.” https://t.co/5Bl4Ob3O2t #Debates2020 pic.twitter.com/OA3ffVcrkg
— ABC News (@ABC) September 30, 2020
Biden said he is wishing for a “swift recovery” for Trump and Melania, saying, “We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family.”
Two sources tell ABC News that Biden is being tested Friday morning and that a statement should be coming from the campaign shortly. Jill Biden, who was at Tuesday’s debate, will also be tested Friday, the Biden campaign said.
Kamala Harris tested negative on Thursday as part of the campaign’s routine testing, according to a Harris aide.
8 a.m.: Pence tests negative
It’s unknown how Trump’s diagnosis will impact the second debate and next week’s vice presidential debate between Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris.
Pence and second lady Karen Pence’s COVID-19 tests came back negative, Devin O’Malley, Pence’s press secretary, said Friday morning.
“As has been routine for months, Vice President Pence is tested for COVID-19 every day. This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19. Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery,” O’Malley tweeted.
Pence tweeted that he’s praying for the Trumps’ recovery.
“Karen and I send our love and prayers to our dear friends President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS Melania Trump. We join millions across America praying for their full and swift recovery. God bless you President Trump & our wonderful First Lady Melania,” Pence tweeted.
Karen and I send our love and prayers to our dear friends President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS Melania Trump. We join millions across America praying for their full and swift recovery. God bless you President Trump & our wonderful First Lady Melania.
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) October 2, 2020
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