President Trump today greeted supporters outside Walter Reed Medical Center from his motorcade, leaving his hospital suite for a “surprise” visit as he undergoes treatment for COVID-19.
Trump tweeted a video in which he said he planned to go say hello to the dozens of supporters who had gathered across the street, waving Trump flags as the president was hospitalized.
Moments later, video emerged of the president’s motorcade passing by, with a masked Trump visible waving in the backseat.
The decision raised immediate safety concerns, as Trump is infected with a highly contagious virus that has killed more than 205,000 Americans.
Two Secret Service agents could be seen in the vehicle with him.
Both were wearing masks.
That’s Trump driving by his supporters outside Walter Reed military hospital. pic.twitter.com/eqA0RGkr6A
— Philip Crowther (@PhilipinDC) October 4, 2020
Patients who test positive for COVID-19 are typically required to quarantine for 14 days, which is the incubation period for the virus, to avoid infecting others.
Trump first publicized his positive test early Friday morning, and he has been symptomatic since then, meaning he is likely still contagious.
Meanwhile, Trump’s ‘body man’, whose job description includes accompanying him at all times, tested positive for coronavirus this weekend after traveling with Trump several times recently.
Three people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg of Nicholas Luna’s diagnosis Saturday night as pictures also show the head of Oval Office Operations traveled with Hope Hicks Wednesday – just hours before she received her positive test.
Luna is just the latest in a string of Trump’s inner circle who have tested positive for coronavirus this week.
It appears the initial event that could have caused the outbreak is the Rose Garden event last Saturday where Trump announced Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee for the Supreme Court.
Overnight Thursday, Trump announced he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Among those who attended the White House event last weekend and have now tested positive are Hicks, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie; former White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway; President of the University of Notre Dame John Jenkins; and Republican Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
Those notable individuals who have also tested positive but were not at the event are Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien, head of the Republican National Committee Ronna McDaniel and Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.
Another spreader event could have been Trump’s Wednesday rally in Minnesota, of which Hicks and Luna were present.
Luna’s ‘body man’ responsibilities range from handling Trump’s papers and speech texts to being ready with everything the president may need from briefing books to pens for autographs.
His diagnosis emerged the day after Trump entered the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment following his own infection.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Saturday that the president went through a ‘very concerning’ period on Friday and said his next two days will be ‘critical.’
‘We’re still not on a clear path yet to a full recovery,’ Meadows told reporters outside Walter Reed on Saturday.
TRUMP’S INNER CIRCLE WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID
President Donald Trump
First Lady Melania Trump
Counselor to the President Hope Hicks
Former White House Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway
Trump’s Campaign Manager Bill Stepien
Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee Ronna McDaniel
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
Chief of Oval Office Operations and ‘body man’ Nicholas Luna
Republican Utah Senator Mike Lee
Republican North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis
Republican Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson
President of the University of Notre Dame John Jenkins
Unnamed White House Press staffer