×

Officials React To Trump COVID-19 Diagnosis

Donald Trump

Federal and state representatives each issued reactions Friday to the news that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had contracted COVID-19.

The White House said late Friday afternoon that Trump will spend “a few days” at a military hospital as a result of the diagnosis. There he will work from the hospital’s presidential suite, which is equipped to allow him to continue his official duties.

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, who represents New York’s 23rd congressional district, said in a statement that the president and First Lady were in his prayers.

“We wish them a speedy and full recovery,” Reed said. “This is a moment that, I believe, we as leaders can demonstrate who we are as a country.”

He added, “We must have a healthy respect for this virus. We must use our common sense, smarts, and medical best practices to mitigate its risks. But we will not stand down. We will not live in fear. In the end, we will get through this and we will overcome the challenges before us together.”

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, said that he wished the Trumps and “any White House staff members who are infected a speedy recovery.”

“I join the nation in praying for the First Family’s health and safety,” Schumer said, emphasizing that their infection require that the White House “immediately conduct a contact tracing regime that follows (Center for Disease Control) guidelines, as well as thorough testing and isolation for those who were exposed to infection risk.”

“This must include strict adherence to those guidelines for all of the White House staff members that the President, First Lady and the aide came into contact with; and all of the people those individuals came into contact with whom experts deem at risk of exposure, and so forth.”

He urged the White House to be forthcoming with information.

“Though they have not done so in the past, the administration must now follow the science and all recommended health protocols in order to not put additional people at risk,” Schumer said. “And they must be completely transparent.”

The president’s positive test also indicates that the Senate must utilize a testing and contact tracing program for those who work in the Capitol complex, New York’s senior senator said.

“We simply cannot allow the administration’s cavalier attitude to adversely affect this branch of government,” he said. “It is imperative that all the results be made public in order to contain a possible outbreak and so we can determine the need for Senators and staff to quarantine or self-isolate.”

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also weighed in on the news of Trump’s diagnosis.

“Politics aside, we can have political differences and Lord knows I have political differences with the President, and we’re both New Yorkers, so we’re not shy about speaking our mind,” Cuomo said WCBS-AM in New York. “We wish him all very well, a speedy recovery both to him and the First Lady. This creates a lot of anxiety. I’ve gone through this in my family. I’m sure his children are worried, et cetera.”

“Speedy recovery and they’re in our thoughts and prayers. We’re going to be sending the President and First Lady a New York Cares package, just to give them some comfort as they go through this.”

Navy Commander Dr. Sean Conley said Trump, 74, “remains fatigued but in good spirits” and that a team of experts was evaluating both the president and first lady in regard to next steps. The First Lady, 50, has a “mild cough and headache,” Conley reported, and the remainder of the first family, including the Trumps’ son Barron, who lives at the White House, tested negative.

Trump revealed his diagnosis in a tweet at about 1 a.m. after he had returned from an afternoon political fundraiser, an event he went forward with knowing that he had been exposed to an aide — former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks — that had traveled with him earlier in the week who had tested positive.

Both Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris have tested negative, their campaign said. Vice President Mike Pence tested negative for the virus Friday morning and “remains in good health,” his spokesman said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today