President Donald Trump speaks during a briefing on coronavirus in the Brady press briefing room at the White House, Saturday, March 14, 2020, in Washington, as U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson listen. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The White House has announced that President Donald Trump has been tested for the Wuhan coronavirus, despite having no symptoms, out of an excess of caution because he had exposure to at least two people who have been diagnosed with the virus.
One of those people was the Brazilian president’s press secretary who tested positive in the days after he met Trump and the other was Nestor Forster, Brazil’s chargé d’affaires in Washington. But neither had symptoms when they met with Trump. So it’s not clear if they had it when they met with the president and it’s less likely if they were asymptomatic that they will transmit it, although still possible.
A reporter asks @realDonaldTrump if his temperature was normal. He turned around right before leaving the briefing rooms and said: “Totally normal.” #coronavirus #covid19
— Liz Kreutz (@ABCLiz) March 14, 2020
NEW: Pres. Trump says he was tested for COVID-19 after being pressed on whether he would take it after meeting with Brazilian official who reportedly tested positive for the virus. "I decided I should based on the press conference yesterday." https://t.co/kAUWcu0Kk0 pic.twitter.com/XJbBQRdfqY
— ABC News (@ABC) March 14, 2020
The test should take about 24 hours to determine.
Meanwhile, the president announce that the U.S. is extending the Europe travel ban to cover the residents of United Kingdom and Ireland for 30 days beginning Monday. American citizens will be able to come back and get checked at the airport, as with the EU travel ban.
Media is of course having their typical reaction. Those who were attacking him for not getting tested are now attacking him for getting tested.
Trump’s doctor had put out a letter yesterday saying he had no symptoms so he didn’t need to be tested. He may not have wanted to waste a test for nothing.
The president’s doctor says that despite interactions with two people with COVID-19 last weekend, Trump does not need a test or to self-quarantine at this time. pic.twitter.com/8T9x2pfmhA
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) March 14, 2020
But the president decided to get tested anyway to assuage concerns.
So now the leftists and media who were freaking that he wasn’t getting tested are now upset that he did get tested. They think somehow the doctor’s statement and his in conflict. That’s their latest crazy meltdown. They wonder why people think media has no credibility?
Pretty striking that Trump says he took the test in the same time window that the WH physician put out a note explaining why he didn't need to be tested. https://t.co/cgLTEgWRQS
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 14, 2020
Sounds like Maggie is “teeing up” for Democrats again.
Note to self: never, ever go to this quack White House physician for any diagnosis or treatment
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) March 14, 2020
If the WH Physician wrote a memo saying Trump didn't need to be tested and then he was tested – who's in charge of the President's health?
— Sam Vinograd (@sam_vinograd) March 14, 2020
Never Trump folks, being irrelevant and wrong, as usual.
It’s kind of amusing that Trump got himself tested last night without, apparently, telling Pence.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 14, 2020
You want to know who Donald Trump is?
He’s the leader of the free world.
He’s been exposed to the virus.
He refuses to get tested.
And he keeps shaking hands.
That’s who Donald Trump is.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) March 14, 2020
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