President Donald Trump and his wife Melania have contracted the coronavirus, White House officials said early Friday, after months in which he has played down a pandemic that has killed more than 205,000 Americans and sickened millions more.
Trump, 74, was diagnosed hours after it became publicly known that Hope Hicks, a top Trump aide who travelled with him on Air Force One and Marine One this week, tested positive on Thursday morning.
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for the coronavirus,” the president tweeted just before 1 a.m.
“We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
The president’s physician, Sean P. Conley, wrote later that Trump and his wife “are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence.”
An aide who saw Trump late Thursday said he seemed normal and did not show any symptoms, though he was aware of Hicks and her condition.
Hicks is showing symptoms, officials said. Aides said all of his political events will be canceled for the foreseeable future.
After White House officials learned of Hicks’ symptoms, Trump and his entourage flew to New Jersey, where he attended a fundraiser and delivered a speech.
Trump was in close contact with dozens of other people, including campaign supporters at a roundtable event.
Late Thursday, Trump tweeted that he and the first lady, who traveled with Hicks and the president on Tuesday, were in quarantine.
“Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for the coronavirus 19.
“Terrible! The first lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!” he said.
