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White House COVID-19 outbreak

October 2020 diagnosis of Donald Trump and associates
(Redirected from White House outbreak of COVID-19)

In September and October 2020, multiple people at the White House tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

White House outbreak of COVID-19
Event in the Rose Garden of the White House where possible infections happened
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationWhite House, Washington, D.C., USA
Arrival dateSeptember 26, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-09-26)
Confirmed casesAt least 36[1]
Hospitalized cases3

Background

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On September 16, it was reported that at least one unnamed staffer had tested positive.[2]

On October 1, President Donald Trump, his wife Melania Trump, press advisor Hope Hicks, presidential campaign manager Bill Stepien, and former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway tested positive for the coronavirus.[3][4][5][6] Claudia Conway, the daughter of Kellyanne Conway, announced on Oct 4 that she had tested positive as well.[7] On October 5, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced she had also tested positive.[8]

Trump tested positive days after the first presidential debate against Joe Biden in Cleveland, Ohio. Around eleven people tested positive who worked at the debates in Cleveland.[9] Some of Trump's personal aides who prepared him for the debates also tested positive.[10]

Many of the cases were rooted to be at the announcement of Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the United States Supreme Court on September 26 and at a Trump campaign fundraiser event in Bedminster, New Jersey on October 1.[11]

That same day, it was revealed that Senators Thom Tillis and Mike Lee both tested positive, as well as University of Notre Dame president John I. Jenkins.[12] Three members of the White House press corps, including Michael D. Shear, also tested positive.[13]

On October 2, Trump was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.[14][15]

Also on October 2, many individuals connected to the White House were diagnosed with COVID-19.[16][17]

Trump response

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Trump greets supporters from inside an SUV on October 4.

On October 4, Trump left the hospital in order to ride past a gathering of supporters at the medical center, waving from the back seat of an SUV, before returning to the hospital.[18] This was seen as a political stunt and many criticized Trump for possible putting other people at risk for getting infected.[19][20] Many Secret Service agents were upset at Trump as he could have infected them with one agent saying: "He's not even pretending to care now".[21][22]

Reaction

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Trump while hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with COVID-19 in October 3
Sean Conley's press update on President Trump, October 4 – video courtesy of the White House

The incident has been compared to the non-fatal shooting of Ronald Reagan in 1981, which saw similar concerns over continuity of government amid incapacitation of the president.[23]

Stock markets briefly fell more than 1.5 percent after Trump announced his diagnosis, but they cut their losses after Pelosi said she anticipated an economic relief deal. The S&P 500 Index ended the day down almost 1 percent.[24]

Twitter announced that any posts wishing for Trump's death would be removed for violating the platform's terms of service. Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley criticized Twitter for not taking threats against them seriously, pointing to longstanding posts calling for their deaths that had not been removed.[25] Facebook and TikTok announced similar policies.[26]

Tested negative

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Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen,[27] Presidential candidate Joe Biden, Biden's running mate Kamala Harris, Biden's wife Jill Biden, Attorney General William Barr, and Trump Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett all tested negative in the day following public revelation of the outbreak.[28][29][30]

Many of Trump's family members, including Ivanka Trump, Barron Trump, Jared Kushner,[31] Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. also received a negative result.[32]

Cases

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Timeline of event attendance by people who have tested positive for COVID-19
Patient Position Was event attended by the patient? Current status Date the diagnosis was first reported publicly
Barrett nomination
Sep 26 		Gold Star Day
Sep 27 		Ohio debate
Sep 29 		Duluth rally
Sep 30 		Bedminster fundraiser
Oct 1
Multiple unidentified staffers White House staffers Unknown Positive Sep 16[2]
Crede Bailey Head of White House Security Office Diagnosed before Barrett nomination event, hospitalized in September Hospitalized Oct 6[33]
Hope Hicks Senior Counselor to the President     Isolating[11][34] Positive and symptomatic Oct 1[35]
Donald Trump (R) 45th President of the United States          [36] Hospitalized; Discharged Oct 2[37]
Mike Lee (R) United States Senator from Utah   Positive and symptomatic Oct 2[38]
Thom Tillis (R) United States Senator from North Carolina   Positive and symptomatic[39] Oct 2[40]
Melania Trump First Lady of the United States     Positive and symptomatic Oct 2[41]
Kellyanne Conway Former Counselor to the President   Positive and symptomatic Oct 2[42]
Ronna McDaniel Chair of the Republican National Committee Attended D.C. fundraiser with Trump on Sep 25[1] Positive and symptomatic Oct 2[43]
Michael D. Shear & wife[44] White House correspondent for The New York Times Michael Shear was at the White House on Sep 26 only for a required COVID-19 test in advance of traveling with Trump and Kayleigh McEnany to the Pennsylvania rally later that day[45] Positive and symptomatic Oct 2[46]
Bill Stepien Trump campaign manager Traveled to Cleveland debate aboard Air Force One with President, First Lady, Hope Hicks, and Steven Miller Positive and symptomatic Oct 2[47]
Al Drago White House press room photojournalist   Positive and symptomatic Oct 2[48]
One unidentified journalist White House press room journalist   Unknown Positive Oct 2[49]
11 unidentified persons Debate preparation staff or media   Positive Oct 2[9]
Nick Luna Body man to Donald Trump   Cancelled[11][10] Positive Oct 3[10]
Chris Christie (R) Former Governor of New Jersey   Exposed to Trump at Amy Coney Barrett meeting on Sep 26, at debate prep meetings and a press conference on Sep 27 Hospitalized Oct 3[50]
John I. Jenkins President of the University of Notre Dame   Positive and symptomatic Oct 3[51]
Ron Johnson (R) United States Senator from Wisconsin Exposed to unnamed individual on Sep 14[52] Positive but asymptomatic Oct 3[53]
Claudia Conway Daughter of Kellyanne Conway Exposed to mother Positive and symptomatic[54] Oct 4[7]
Kayleigh McEnany White House press secretary     Cancelled[11] Positive Oct 5[55]
Greg Laurie Senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship   Positive and symptomatic Oct 5[56]
Chad Gilmartin Principal assistant press secretary   Positive Oct 5[57]
Karoline Leavitt Assistant press secretary   Positive Oct 5[57]
Two unidentified staffers White House residence staff Regularly exposed to First Family Positive Oct 5[58]
Jayna McCarron U.S. Coast Guard aide to the president   Positive Oct 6[59]
One unidentified military personnel President's valet[60] Regularly exposed to Trump Positive Oct 6[61]
Adm. Charles Ray Vice commandant of the Coast Guard   Positive and symptomatic Oct 6[1]
Jalen Drummond Assistant White House Press Secretary   Positive Oct 6[62]
Stephen Miller Senior Advisor to the President   Positive Oct 6[63]
Salud Carbajal (D) United States Representative from CA-24 Reportedly exposed to Sen. Mike Lee Positive and symptomatic Oct 6[64]
Gen. Gary Thomas Marine Corps’ assistant commandant Exposed to Gen. Milley Positive and symptomatic Oct 7[65]
Mike Bost US Representative from IL-12 Exposed to Mike Lee Positive and symptomatic Oct 9[66]

References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Buchanan, Larry; Gamio, Lazaro; Leatherby, Lauren; Keefe, John; Koettl, Christoph; Walker, Amy Schoenfeld (October 2, 2020). "Tracing Trump's Contacts Before He Tested Positive for Coronavirus". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "White House Staff Members Reportedly Test Positive For COVID Less Than 48 Hours After President Donald Trump Visited Sacramento". KMAX-TV. CBS. September 17, 2020. Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  3. ↑ Collins, Kaitlan; Acosta, Jim (October 2, 2020). "Close Trump adviser Hope Hicks tests positive for coronavirus, sources say". CNN. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  4. ↑ Wagner, John; Itkowitz, Colby; Dawsey, Josh (October 2, 2020). "Live updates: Trump experiencing 'mild symptoms' after testing positive for coronavirus, top aide says". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  5. ↑ Baker, Peter; Haberman, Maggie (October 2, 2020). "Trump Tests Positive for the Coronavirus". The New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  6. ↑ Isenstadt, Alex. "Trump campaign manager tests positive for Covid-19". Politico. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Matthews, David (October 4, 2020). "Claudia Conway announces coronavirus diagnosis on TikTok". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  8. ↑ Sprunt, Barbara (5 October 2020). "White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany Tests Positive For Coronavirus". NPR.org.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Staff (October 2, 2020). "City of Cleveland announces 11 positive cases of COVID-19 stemming from preparations for presidential debate". WKYC Cleveland. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Trump aide Nick Luna tests positive for the coronavirus". Los Angeles Times. Bloomberg. October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Rubin, Olivia; Mosk, Matthew; Faulders, Katherine; Cohen, Miles (October 4, 2020). "For some high-dollar Trump donors, Bedminster hobnobbing now means COVID tests". ABC News. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  12. ↑ CNN, Hollie Silverman and Melissa Alonso. "Notre Dame president tests positive for Covid-19 nearly a week after attending SCOTUS announcement with no mask". CNN. Retrieved October 3, 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. ↑ Farhi, Paul (October 3, 2020). "Three White House journalists test positive for coronavirus after closely covering Trump". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020.
  14. ↑ Liptak, Kevin (October 2, 2020). "Trump taken to Walter Reed medical center and will be hospitalized 'for the next few days'". CNN. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  15. ↑ Subramanian, Courtney; Jackson, David (October 2, 2020). "President Trump taken to Walter Reed hospital for an expected stay of a few days after COVID-19 diagnosis". USA Today. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  16. ↑ Collins, Kaitlin; Stracqualursi, Veronica (October 2, 2020). "RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tests positive for coronavirus". CNN. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  17. ↑ @MichaelCBender (October 2, 2020). "Ronna McDaniel has tested positive for coronavirus. She found out Wednesday and has been home since the previous Saturday, according to statement from Republican National Committee" (Tweet). Retrieved October 2, 2020 – via Twitter.
  18. ↑ Jackson, David; Subramanian, Courtney (October 4, 2020). "'Interesting journey:' Donald Trump drives by supporters outside Walter Reed, claims progress in another video". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  19. ↑ Luscombe, Richard (October 5, 2020). "'This is insanity': Walter Reed physician among critics of Donald Trump drive-by visit". The Guardian.
  20. ↑ Seipel, Brooke (October 4, 2020). "Walter Reed attending physician swipes at Trump for motorcade visit to supporters". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  21. ↑ Leonnig, Carol D. (October 4, 2020). "Secret Service agents outraged by Trump's drive outside hospital". The Washington Post.
  22. ↑ Martin Kaste, Secret Service Agents Frustrated With Trump's Unnecessary Coronavirus Risks, NPR (October 6, 2020).
  23. ↑ Rozdilsky, Jack L. (October 2, 2020). "Trump's hospitalization due to COVID-may 19 cause crisis of instability at the White House". The Conversation.
  24. ↑ Telford, Taylor (October 2, 2020). "Stocks cut losses after Trump's covid-19 diagnosis as focus shifts to stimulus". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  25. ↑ O'Sullivan, Donie; Elassar, Alaa (October 3, 2020). "Twitter bans posts wishing for Trump death. The Squad wonders where that policy was for them". Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  26. ↑ Allyn, Bobby. "Facebook, Twitter And TikTok Say Wishing Trump's Death From COVID-19 Is Not Allowed". NPR.org. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  27. ↑ Wilson, Christopher. "Pence negative for COVID-19, vice president's office says". Yahoo! News. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  28. ↑ Bradner, Eric; Mucha, Sarah; Sullivan, Kate. "Biden calls Trump's positive test a 'bracing reminder' of seriousness of coronavirus pandemic". CNN. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  29. ↑ Wilkie, Christina (October 2, 2020). "Democratic nominee Joe Biden campaigns in Michigan after testing negative for coronavirus". CNBC. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Trump coronavirus: Who else close to the US president has tested positive for COVID-19?". Sky News. October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  31. ↑ Palmer, Ewan (October 2, 2020). "Jared Kushner, Ivanka and Barron Trump Test Negative for COVID". Newsweek. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  32. ↑ Boucher, Ashley (October 2, 2020). "Eric and Donald Trump Jr. Test Negative for Coronavirus 1 Day After Donald Trump and Melania Test Positive". People. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  33. ↑ Jacobs, Jennifer (October 7, 2020). "White House Security Official Contracted Covid-19 in September". Bloomberg.com – via www.bloomberg.com.
  34. ↑ Collins, David Jackson and Michael. "Trump went ahead with campaign events in New Jersey after Hope Hicks tested positive for COVID". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  35. ↑ Vella, Lauren (October 1, 2020). "Trump, first lady to quarantine after top aide tests positive for coronavirus". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  36. ↑ "White House Knew of Trump's Exposure Before He Traveled to New Jersey". NBC New York. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Concerning signs in Trump's care despite word he's doing OK". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  38. ↑ Fandos, Nicholas; Edmondson, Catie (October 2, 2020). "Senators Thom Tillis and Mike Lee test positive for the virus". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Sen. Thom Tillis spokesperson says he has mild symptoms of COVID-19, no fever and is in great spirits". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. October 3, 2020.
  40. ↑ Carney, Jordain (October 2, 2020). "GOP Sen. Thom Tillis tests positive for coronavirus". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  41. ↑ "Covid-19 Live Updates: Trump Is Hospitalized as More Aides Test Positive". The New York Times. October 3, 2020. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  42. ↑ "The Latest: Trump campaign manager tests positive for COVID". Associated Press. October 2, 2020. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  43. ↑ Rummler, Orion (October 3, 2020). "RNC chair Ronna McDaniel tested positive for coronavirus". Axios. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  44. ↑ Allen, Mike; Treene, Alayna; McCammond, Alexi (6 October 2020). ""This place is a cesspool": With Trump's return, risks rise in the West Wing". Axios. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  45. ↑ Stelter, Brian (October 5, 2020). "New York Times reporter infected with Covid-19 says the White House is not doing contact tracing". CNN Business. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  46. ↑ Baker, Peter (October 3, 2020). "Trump Hospitalized With Coronavirus". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  47. ↑ Isenstadt, Alex. "Trump campaign manager tests positive for COVID-19". Politico. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  48. ↑ "Tracking the White House Coronavirus Outbreak". New York Times.
  49. ↑ Farhi, Paul. "Three White House journalists test positive for coronavirus after closely covering Trump". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  50. ↑ Newburger, Emma (October 3, 2020). "Chris Christie tests positive for coronavirus". CNBC. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  51. ↑ Romero, Simon (October 2, 2020). "The president of Notre Dame tests positive, less than a week after a White House visit". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  52. ↑ staff, WBAY news; Press, Associated (3 October 2020). "Republican Senator Ron Johnson tests positive for COVID-19". www.wbay.com.
  53. ↑ Reilly, Briana. "After testing positive for COVID-19, Ron Johnson says he's still against mask mandates". madison.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  54. ↑ Garger, Kenneth (4 October 2020). "Claudia Conway announces she has coronavirus on TikTok". Fox News. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  55. ↑ Hoffman, Jason (5 October 2020). "White House press secretary tests positive for coronavirus". CNN. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  56. ↑ Hartmann, Margaret; Stieb, Matt; Danner, Chas (October 5, 2020). "White House Outbreak Continues to Grow: Live Updates". NY Mag Intelligencer. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Hoffman, Jason (5 October 2020). "White House press secretary and two aides have tested positive for coronavirus". CNN. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  58. ↑ Haberman, Maggie (October 4, 2020). "Two White House residence employees, who do not have contact with the president, tested positive weeks ago". The New York Times.
  59. ↑ Rawlinson, Kevin; Farrer, Martin; Sullivan, Helen; Holmes, Oliver; Murray, Jessica; Elliott, Larry (October 6, 2020). "Coronavirus live news: Italy considers mandatory outdoor masks; Chinese vaccines to be assessed". The Guardian. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  60. ↑ "Factbox: White House Staff, Top Republicans Who Have Tested Positive for Coronavirus".
  61. ↑ Liptak, Kevin; Collins, Kaitlan; Zeleny, Jeff (October 5, 2020). "Trump's reckless return met with a dramatically changed White House". CNN. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  62. ↑ "Fourth White House press aide tests positive for COVID-19". The Hill.
  63. ↑ Collins, Kaitlan (October 6, 2020). "Top White House aide Stephen Miller tests positive for Covid-19". CNN. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  64. ↑ Hearon, Liza (October 6, 2020). "Trump Coronavirus Update: The Latest On The President's Health And The GOP COVID-19 Outbreak". HuffPost. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  65. ↑ Ali, Phil Stewart, Idrees (October 8, 2020). "Pentagon risk grows as Marine Corps' No. 2 officer tests positive for coronavirus". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  66. ↑ Williams, Jordan (October 9, 2020). "GOP Rep. Mike Bost tests positive for COVID-19". The Hill. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
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