WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following his COVID-19 diagnosis, President Donald Trump was flown by Marine One to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Friday night, where he will stay for “a few days,” according to the White House.
A feverish and fatigued Trump walked out of the White House Friday night and boarded the helicopter to the military hospital, where he was given remdesivir following treatment with an experimental drug at the White House.
AP Photo
Giving a thumbs-up to reporters as he left the White House, President Trump left to undergo treatment for the virus that has killed over 200,000 Americans and infected more than 7 million in the U.S.
The White House said his visit to Walter Reed is precautionary, and he will be able to work from the medical hospital. According to the Associated Press, he has not transferred power to Vice President Mike Pence under the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
This is a developing story. Read below for updates throughout the day:
2:07 p.m.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has declared Sunday, Oct. 4, a Day of Prayer for the president and first lady, “as well as all those suffering from or impacted by coronavirus.”
1:55 p.m.
The White House has issued a statement from Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, attempting to clarify his comments about the timeline he gave earlier Saturday.
“I incorrectly used the term ‘seventy two hours’ instead of ‘day three’ and ‘forty eight hours’ instead of ‘day two’ with regards to [President Trump’s] diagnosis and the administration of the polyclonal antibody therapy,” Conley said.
“The President was first diagnosed with COVID-19 on the evening of Thursday, October 1st and had received Regeneron’s antibody cocktail on Friday, October 2nd,” he added.
1:49 p.m.
Trump has tweeted again, urging lawmakers come together to get a stimulus deal done.
The White House and Congressional Democrats appear to be far apart on another round of COVID relief aid.
Democrats narrowly passed a $2.2 trillion COVID-19 relief bill Thursday night, a move that came as top-level talks on a smaller, potentially bipartisan measure dragged on toward an uncertain finish. An air of pessimism has largely taken over the Capitol.
The Democratic bill passed after a partisan debate by a 214-207 vote without any Republicans in support. The move puts lawmakers no closer to actually delivering aid such as more generous weekly unemployment payments, extended help for small businesses and especially troubled economic sectors such as restaurants and airlines, and another round of $1,200 direct payments to most Americans.
1:25 p.m.
President Trump has posted an update to Twitter praising the medical staff at Walter Reed Military Medical Center.
“Tremendous progress has been made over the last 6 months in fighting this PLAGUE. With their help, I am feeling well,” Trump wrote.
1:05 p.m.
A source told the Associated Press that President Trump was given supplemental oxygen at the White House on Friday before going to Walter Reed Military Medical Center.
When asked by reporters if the president required supplementary oxygen, Dr. Conley said that “he’s not on oxygen right now.”
Dr. Conley refused to say whether or not the president was ever given oxygen, and would also not say if Trump has any lung damage.
12:45 p.m.
Attorney General William Barr has tested negative for COVID-19, according to a spokesperson.
12:30 p.m.
President Donald Trump went through a “very concerning” period Friday and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care as he battles the coronavirus at a military hospital, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Saturday.
Meadows’ statement read, “the president’s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery.”
Some of Trump’s medical team’s statements sparked concern that they weren’t being transparent about the president’s health. During his address, Dr. Conley said that the president is “72 hours into his diagnosis now,” meaning the president would have received his positive test results on Wednesday. Trump did not share the news of his diagnosis until early Friday morning.
The president attended two events between Wednesday and Friday.
The White House attempted to clarify Dr. Conley’s remarks, with an official saying that Dr. Conley meant that the president is on day three of his diagnosis, rather than 72 hours.
Read more on this update here.
Meanwhile, Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced that the Senate will be out of session until Oct. 19.
However, he said that this new schedule will have no bearing on the Senate Judiciary Committee holding confirmation hearings for Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
12:00 p.m.
President Trump is “doing very well,” according to an update from his physician, Dr. Sean Conley.
Dr. Conley said that Trump has been “fever free for 24 hours,” but declined to give a specific temperature.
“At this time the team and I are extremely happy with the progress the president has made,” Conley said. “Thursday he had a mild cough and some nasal congestion and fatigue, all of which are now resolving and improving.”
When asked if the president required supplementary oxygen, Dr. Conley said that “he’s not on oxygen right now.”
Dr. Conley refused to say whether or not the president was ever given oxygen, and would also not say if Trump has any lung damage.
The physician also declined to say when Trump took his last negative COVID-19 test.
Dr. Conley said that we are “72 hours” into Trump’s diagnosis, which would mean he was diagnosed Wednesday. President Trump only announced his positive diagnosis after midnight Friday. Trump traveled to a fundraiser in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Thursday.
Dr. Conley did not “want to put a hard date” on when Trump might be discharged from the hospital.
11:37 a.m.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has announced that he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
“I want to thank all of my friends and colleagues who have reached out to ask how I was feeling in the last day or two,” Christie wrote on Twitter. “I will be receiving medical attention today and will keep the necessary folks apprised of my condition.”
According to reports, Christie was one of the people who helped Trump prepare for Tuesday’s presidential debate, which took place in a small conference room.
Christie told ABC News that “no one was wearing masks in the room when we were prepping the president” for the debate.
10:55 a.m.
Reports that Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) tested positive for COVID-19 are, by his own admission, false.
In an appearance on Fox News, Scott said, “I was tested yesterday, I think for the 6th time and I tested positive again.”
However, a spokesman for the senator says that he meant to say “negative” rather than “positive.”
Scott corrected his statement on Twitter, saying that he “misspoke.”
10:00 a.m.
Dr. Sean Conley, President Trump’s physician, will provide an update on his condition at 11 a.m. ET, according to the White House.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has tested positive for COVID-19, the third Republican senator to test positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours.
Johnson tested positive for coronavirus Friday — his office says he came into contact with someone who had contracted COVID-19 after Johnson to Washington, D.C.
“Senator Johnson feels healthy and is not experiencing symptoms,” the spokesman continued. “He will remain isolated until given the all-clear by his doctor. Most staff in the senator’s Washington office have been working remotely. The office will go all-virtual for the immediate future.”
Notably, Johnson was not in attendance at the White House Rose Garden ceremony announcing Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
In other Senate news, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) said that he has tested negative for COVID-19, but said he will be working remotely from his home in Nebraska due to his “close interaction” with others who have tested positive for coronavirus.
Sen. Sasse is on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the group that is scheduled to hold confirmation hearings on Judge Barrett on Oct. 12.
Meanwhile, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), seeming to address the explosion of rumors, misinformation and conspiracy theories in the wake of Trump’s diagnosis, called for more transparency from the White House about Trump’s condition.
“Lies spread much faster than fact checking,” Rubio wrote in a Twitter post.
Overnight
Late Friday night, former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway announced that she, too, tested positive for the virus.
Conway is one of several people in attendance at the White House Rose Garden ceremony announcing Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court to test positive for COVID-19, including Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), and University of Notre Dame president Rev. John Jenkins.
Tillis is the second member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to test positive for COVID-19, the first being Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who announced his diagnosis earlier Friday. (Read more about Sen. Tillis testing positive for coronavirus.)
Trump’s campaign manager, Bill Stepien, also tested positive. Campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh confirmed the news that Stepien received a diagnosis Friday and is experiencing “mild flu-like symptoms.” Stepien, who joined Trump at Tuesday’s first presidential debate, plans to quarantine until he recovers. Earlier Friday, Stepien sent emails to the campaign staff that their offices would remain open, but any campaign events involving the president were being postponed or transitioned to virtual events.
Both Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), have tested negative, according to the Biden campaign.
Vice President Mike Pence tested negative for the virus Friday morning and “remains in good health,” his spokesman said.
Here are some other storylines we’re following:
