Our live coverage of President Donald Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis has moved here.
New photos released by the White House on Saturday appear to show President Donald Trump working from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where he has been since Friday.
The President’s physician, Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley, stated earlier on Saturday that Trump had “made substantial progress since diagnosis.”
In one of the photos, Trump is sitting at the same desk from which he delivered a video message earlier in the day, in which he said that he feels “much better now.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will curtail part of his upcoming Asia trip, the State Department announced on Saturday.
The top US diplomat had been expected to visit Japan, Mongolia and South Korea but has canceled the Mongolia and South Korea legs of the trip.
The statement, from spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, said Pompeo would work to reschedule those countries on another Asia trip later this month.
Pompeo will depart for Tokyo on Sunday as originally scheduled.
Pompeo cancels Florida event: The news comes after Pompeo called off a trip to deliver remarks to a conservative Christian organization on Saturday evening, saying he had done so “out of an abundance of caution.”
Pompeo said he told Vice President Mike Pence that “everything’s in good order.”
Pompeo said he had not been with President Donald Trump since the signing of the Abraham Accords at the White House on September 15.
In an interview with FOX News, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows offered an upbeat assessment of President Trump’s current status but revealed the President’s oxygen level had “dropped rapidly” Friday morning.
Meadows said Trump has no fever right now and his oxygen levels are good, but on Friday morning, Trump did have a fever and his oxygen level had “dropped rapidly.”
He said the President has made “unbelievable improvements from yesterday morning” when both he and Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, were “very concerned.”
Meadows claimed doctors made the recommendation that President Trump should travel to Walter Reed “out of an abundance of caution,” adding “there was never a consideration and never even a risk with the transition of power.”
He also said the video message the President tweeted Saturday night was filmed “a few hours ago,” and that he was “optimistic based on the current results.”
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted another memo from the President’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, who states President Trump, “continues to do well, having made substantial progress since diagnosis.”
In the memo, Conley says Trump completed his second dose of remdesivir today and “remains fever-free and off supplemental oxygen.”
He goes on to say that Trump spent most of the day conducting business and “while not yet out of the woods, the team remains cautiously optimistic.”
You can read the tweet and memo here:
Doctors treating the President for Covid-19 created confusion earlier Saturday with remarks during a briefing that appeared to shift the timeline of Trump’s positive coronavirus test and treatment. Conley released a statement afterward to try to clarify the comments.
The President’s doctors’ upbeat assessment of his condition, stating that he was feeling well and had been “fever-free,” were contradicted moments after when a source familiar with the President’s health told reporters the next 48 hours will be critical in determining how he fares. That source was identified by the New York Times and the Associated Press as White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
The coronavirus outbreak that prompted a series of positive Covid-19 tests among GOP officials likely happened at last Saturday’s White House Rose Garden event where President Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, a senior administration official told CNN.
Multiple attendees of that event, including Trump, have tested positive in the days since the ceremony, which featured many people not wearing masks or observing social distancing protocols.
The official told CNN’s Jake Tapper it:
No medical officials have officially commented on when they believe the President contracted Covid-19 but a White House official told CNN Trump received his first positive coronavirus test result on Thursday, after returning from a fundraiser in New Jersey,
Here’s where the President has been over the past two weeks:
The Montgomery County Police Department has closed down the road near Walter Reed Medical Center for an investigation into an abandoned backpack, according to Montgomery County police public information officer Rebecca Innocenti.
They are waiting for the fire marshal to clear the scene.
President Donald Trump got his first positive coronavirus test result on Thursday after returning from Bedminster, New Jersey, according to a White House official.
That result was via a rapid test. The President then took a more thorough PCR test which also came back positive, according to the official.
He had just returned from a fundraiser at his New Jersey golf club, which went on as planned Thursday night despite the President and staff knowing he had been exposed to coronavirus.
Donors that gave $250,000 were able to participate in a roundtable, photo opportunity and reception with the President, according to the event invite.
Three attendees told CNN that most people at the fundraiser were not wearing masks; all three say they have not been contacted by any contact tracers.
The President announced he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus roughly eight hours after leaving the fundraiser, when he was back at the White House.
Following Donald Trump’s positive Covid-19 diagnosis, Joe Biden’s campaign spokesman Andrew Bates told CNN the Biden campaign will now disclose the results of every coronavirus test the Democratic presidential nominee takes.
This comes as CNN reported earlier Saturday that Biden will be tested more frequently for Covid-19, and intends to move forward with in-person campaigning.
The Democratic nominee will receive a test each time he travels, a source familiar with his testing said.
Read the full statement from Andrew Bates below:
“We have adhered to strict and extensive safety practices recommended by public health experts and doctors in all of our campaigning – including social distancing, mask wearing, and additional safeguards. Vice President Biden is being tested regularly, and we will be releasing the results of each test. Vice President Biden tested negative twice yesterday and was never in close contact with President Trump or members of his team or family during the debate. When he was not on the debate stage, he wore a mask – which he has called on all Americans to do as a patriotic duty to protect one another. Vice President Biden will continue to lead by example as we work together to overcome this pandemic.”
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, from Missouri, tweeted he tested negative for Covid-19.
Hawley was seen maskless at last Saturday’s White House Rose Garden event where President Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Multiple attendees of that event, including Trump, have tested positive in the days since the ceremony, which featured many people not wearing masks and not observing social distancing protocols.
President Trump tweeted a video moments ago, and said that first lady Melania Trump, who had also tested positive for Covid-19, “was doing very well.”
It’s not clear when this video was recorded.
Watch the full video:
Moments ago President Trump tweeted a video where he thanked the staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
“I came here, wasn’t feeling so well. I feel much better now, we’re working hard to get me all the way back — I have to be back because we still have to make America great again,” he said in the video.
The President continued: “We’re gonna beat this coronavirus or whatever you wanna call it.”
It’s not clear when this video was recorded.
Watch the full clip:
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is continuing to self-isolate at his home in North Carolina while experiencing “mild symptoms, and he is in great spirits,” according to a statement from his press secretary Adam Webb.
Tillis tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday, days after attending a White House event where President Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Multiple attendees of that event, including Trump, have tested positive in the days since the ceremony, which featured many people not wearing masks and not observing social distancing protocols.
Sen. Ron Johnson said he learned he had tested positive for Covid-19 after he had spoken at the Ozaukee County Republican Party’s Oktoberfest Dinner on Friday night in Wisconsin.
Johnson said he had no symptoms before the dinner but had decided to get tested as a precaution, after hearing that Utah Sen. Mike Lee had tested positive earlier on Friday.
Johnson said he was able to get tested on Friday night before heading to the Oktoberfest dinner.
At the dinner event, Johnson said he let the organizers know that he would not stick around or mingle with people, or take photographs with attendees. He said he maintained social distancing at the event and let people know why he was being safe.
Johnson said he learned he tested positive after the event on his ride home.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told CNN he checked himself into the hospital Saturday afternoon, as a precautionary measure, after announcing earlier in the day he had tested positive for Covid-19.
Christie, who suffers from asthma, said in consultation with his doctor, he decided it was best to be monitored in the hospital. He said he has a slight fever and is achy but felt well enough to drive himself to the hospital.
Christie told CNN by phone from the hospital that his breathing is fine, but after being admitted, he started a course of the Covid-19 treatment remdesivir.
Just moments ago, he tweeted that he is “feeling good.”
Christie was part of the President’s debate prep team and sat close to the President, and others who have now tested positive for coronavirus.
He was also in the audience for Trump’s Supreme Court announcement last weekend.
Watch more:
In an email to GOP senators obtained by CNN, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell detailed the changes in the Senate schedule and made it clear he needs all Republican senators back by Oct. 19.
It’s another sign that he has little margin for error to get Judge Amy Coney Barrett confirmed by the election.
However, if Sens. Thom Tillis and Mike Lee – the two GOP senators on the Senate Judiciary who tested positive for Covid-19 – are unable to return, Democrats will be able to deny them a quorum during the vote on Barrett’s nomination.
Read the full text of his email below:
“Colleagues – our thoughts and best wishes are with the President, the First Lady and Mike, Thom and Ron. I have discussed our situation with Chuck and believe the followIng course of action is prudent. The Senate will go into pro forma session until October 19th. On that day, we will need all Republican Senators back and healthy to ensure we have a quorum.
Lindsey and his committee will be able to conduct the confirmation hearings of Judge Barrett as planned, beginning on October 12th. Should we need to break into a pro forma to conduct covid or other related business requiring votes, you will be given at least 24 hours notice to return.
I had a good conversation with the President yesterday and he is in good spirits. I am mindful, though, that these times are unsettling in the life of our country. We need to lead now, with extra prudence and care, not just for our own health and well being, but to be able to perform our elected duties and to be examples to the country. Wear masks, stay distant, and come back safely on the 19th.
Best,
Mitch”
Vice President Mike Pence joined an all-staff conference call with campaign officials a few moments ago, in an attempt to project optimism as President Trump remains hospitalized.
Pence said he had spoken to Trump “a couple of times since his diagnosis,” but did not say specifically if he had talked to him today.
Pence made it clear that he intends to remain on the campaign trail over the next 30 days in what they’re calling “Operation MAGA.”
Sources have told CNN that campaign officials have struggled to determine what steps they should take given both their candidate and campaign manager have tested positive for coronavirus.
They held several internal calls today and CNN was provided access to this one by a source.
“See you out on the campaign trail,” Pence said as he wrapped up.
President Trump’s re-election campaign announced the launch of “Operation MAGA,” which the campaign describes as “a full marshaling of top-level surrogates, campaign coalitions and Trump supporters, to rally behind the President until the he can return to the trail.”
The President is currently at Walter Reed medical center after announcing he had tested positive for Covid-19 early Friday morning. An attempt by his doctor to reassure the public about the President’s condition only created widespread confusion and concerns about transparency on Saturday, as a source familiar with Trump’s health told reporters the next 48 hours will be critical in determining how he fares.
While Trump is in hospital, Vice President Mike Pence will make in-person campaign appearances in key states, as will members of the first family.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he just spoke with President Trump.
Here’s his whole message:
Senator Bernie Sanders hit the campaign trail Saturday, holding his first in-person event on behalf of Joe Biden at a small, socially distanced rally in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Sanders opened by wishing President Trump and the first lady “a full and speedy recovery,” sending well wishes to fellow members of congress infected with Covid-19, as well as “the many, many other Americans who are struggling with this terrible disease.”
The former Democratic presidential candidate said at the end of this remarks that there is one person with the discipline, temperament, and proposed policies to lead Americans through the pandemic: Joe Biden.
