US President Donald Trump and first lady test positive for coronavirus

Trump is reportedly showing mild symptoms, but will remain on the job.

By REUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
President Donald Trump consults with counselor to the president Hope Hicks and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, May 3, 2020 (photo credit: JOSHUA ROBERTS / REUTERS)
President Donald Trump consults with counselor to the president Hope Hicks and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, May 3, 2020
(photo credit: JOSHUA ROBERTS / REUTERS)
US President Donald Trump announced that he has tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday morning. 
Making the announcement via Twitter, Trump added that he and his wife would both be quarantined.

Trump has mild symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19 but he was expected to remain on the job, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said on Friday.
"The American people can rest assured that we have a president that is not only on the job, will remain on the job and I'm optimistic that he'll have a very quick and speedy recovery," Meadows told reporters at the White House.
Trump's campaign manager Bill Stepien and former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway  both tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday, according to US media.
 
Stepien traveled to Cleveland with Trump and his staff last week for the first presidential debate, and was seen in close proximity with Hope Hicks. He also attended debate prep sessions with Conway in the same week.
US Vice President Mike Pence tested negative for the coronavirus, as did Joe and Jill Biden. Additionally, Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, also tested negative.
The White House issued a new schedule for Trump's activities on Friday that did not include his planned trip to Florida. Trump has held regular rallies around the country to drum up enthusiasm for his candidacy against Democratic rival Joe Biden, who is ahead in national opinion polls.
A white house official said Trump was feeling well, and that his doctors were optimistic about the turnout of his condition. 
"The vice president can take the reins if he has to. The president of course will want to be very involved, and he will be. As you know, he does not like to sit still."
The first lady, Melania Trump, also took to Twitter to comment, mentioning that she and her husband were both "feeling good."

Pence sent his regards to the president and the first lady.
"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 said.
Trump said on Thursday he was beginning a quarantine process after Hope Hicks, a top adviser and trusted aide, tested positive for the coronavirus.
"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!" Trump said in a tweet.
"I spend a lot of time with Hope, and so does the first lady. And she's tremendous," he said.
The positive tests raise the possibility that others within Trump's immediate circle and at the highest levels of the US government may have been exposed and have to quarantine as well.
Biden tweeted well wishes on behalf of himself and his wife, Jill.
"Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery. We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family," Biden tweeted.

 
Israel's Health Minister Yuli Edelstein commented: "I wish a complete and speedy recovery to President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump from COVID-19."

The son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yair also sent his regards. On his Twitter account he wrote: "Sending my prayers for a speedy recovery to President Trump and First Lady Melania!!!" 

Futures for the S&P 500 fell 1.8% in Asian trading after the news, extending earlier losses, while barometers of risk sentiment, such as the Australian dollar and Treasury yields, dipped.
The announcement has reverberated through world media and financial markets. Here are some more reactions:
CHINA'S PRESIDENT XI JINPING
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to Trump and his wife Melania on Saturday, wishing them a speedy recovery from the coronavirus, Chinese state television reported.
RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN:
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday sent Trump a telegram to wish him a swift recovery after he tested positive for COVID-19, Russian news agencies reported, citing the Kremlin.
"I am certain that your inherent vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus," Putin's telegram said, according to the Interfax news agency.
BRITAIN'S HOUSING SECRETARY ROBERT KENRICK, ON BEHALF OF THE UK GOVERNMENT:
"All of us want to send our best wishes to President Trump, the first lady and the Trump family and wish them a speedy recovery," Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky.
"We know what it's like to have, in our case a prime minister who tested positive for COVID and setting aside politics we all want to see him and his wife get better soon," he said, referring to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who fell gravely ill after catching COVID-19 in March and spent two weeks recovering.
Johnson later also tweeted his best wishes.

FRANCE'S GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, GABRIEL ATTAL
“This demonstrates that the virus spares no one, including those who have shown skepticism. I wish him a swift recovery.”
HU XIJIN, EDITOR IN CHIEF OF CHINA'S GLOBAL TIMES
"President Trump and the first lady have paid the price for his gamble to play down the COVID-19. The news shows the severity of the US’ pandemic situation. It will impose a negative impact on the image of Trump and the US, and may also negatively affect his reelection."
CHINA DAILY, THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER
"The positive test is yet another reminder that the coronavirus continues to spread, even as Trump has tried desperately to suggest it no longer poses a danger. Since it emerged earlier this year, Trump, the White House and his campaign have played down the threat and refused to abide by basic public health guidelines — including those issued by his own administration — such as wearing masks in public and practicing social distancing. Instead, Trump has continued to hold campaign rallies that draw thousands of supporters. The virus has killed more than 200,000 Americans and infected more than 7 million nationwide."
TAIWAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE SPOKESMAN'S STATEMENT
"President Tsai, upon receiving the news, sent her best wishes to the US government via diplomatic channels, hoping that President Trump and his wife can recover at an early date under the professional care of the medical team.”
SHANE OLIVER, HEAD OF INVESTMENT STRATEGY, AMP CAPITAL, SYDNEY
“There might be a sympathy vote for Trump if he gets the coronavirus.
“The market’s already a little bit on edge because of the upcoming election and the failure of talks to result in a new fiscal stimulus.
“You can imagine all sorts of scenarios here. If he tests positive and then just shows mild symptoms, it will be over in a few days. If he gets ill and has to go to hospital, the market will be a lot more concerned. Obviously, to the extent campaigning comes to a halt, it might increase fears that he might lose the election.
"Generally speaking, the market prefers the incumbent to win and the general preference has been for Trump to win because he will mean lower taxes and less regulation than a Biden presidency.
"But the whole issue around fiscal stimulus is complicated because, if Trump loses and the Democrats win and they get control of the Senate and the House, it makes fiscal stimulus assured, which will offset the impact of the tax hikes. The market would probably be happy to see a Biden presidency with a clean sweep."
NAOYA OSHIKUBO, SENIOR ECONOMIST, SUMITOMO MITSUI TRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT
"Trump has been trailing behind Biden and he has clearly failed to narrow the gap after the first debate, which is the most important of the three debates. I suspect markets will lean towards the view that Biden will likely win the election.
"What I am worried is that he will become even more aggressive against China after he caught the virus himself, for I got the impression that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has become more anti-China after he had COVID-19.
"For the time being it will be difficult for financial markets to be in a risk-on mood."

"Trump has been trailing behind Biden and he has clearly failed to narrow the gap after the first debate ... I suspect markets will lean towards the view that Biden will likely win the election," said Naoya Oshikubo, senior economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management. "What I am worried is that he will become even more aggressive against China after he caught the virus himself."

US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on Friday he has tested negative for COVID-19 after protectively being screened following news of President Donald Trump's positive test.

"Out of an abundance of caution I was tested for COVID-19 this morning and the result was negative. I will be testifying before Congress as scheduled," Azar wrote on Twitter.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he and his wife Susan were "keeping [Trump] and [the first lady] in our thoughts and prayers. May you both have a quick recovery. Our nation is standing strong with you!"

US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for the Senate to adopt a coronavirus testing and contact tracing program for lawmakers and others at the US Capitol following Trump's positive test.

"The Senate needs a testing and contact tracing program for senators, staff, and all who work in the Capitol complex," Schumer said in a statement.

 

"It is imperative that all 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," he said.



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