Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office on Tuesday despite being sick with COVID, one of his most senior aides – Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow – revealed early Wednesday, sparking immediate chaos as other advisors claimed the president had not done so.
Kudlow told CNBC’s Squawk Box Wednesday that the president went with ‘extra precautions,’ then refused to say what they were claiming they were ‘much greater than simply masking.’
Astonishingly just minutes later the White House chief of staff Mark Meadows claimed Trump had not been in the Oval Office but was planning to go back later Wednesday.
Meadows’ adviser and White House Senior Communications Advisor Ben Williamson also said Trump did not leave his residence Tuesday.
‘While the President wanted to be in the Oval Office yesterday, he was not there—he stayed back in the residence working from there,’ Williamson tweeted Wednesday morning. ‘Safety preparations have been underway in the event he moves to working out of the Oval in the coming days.’
As the three men offered differing accounts, Trump launched another Twitter tirade after frenzied tweeting on Tuesday which caused a Wall Street sell off as he ordered off stimulus talks – only to entirely reverse himself on Tuesday night.
Doctors have voiced concerns that the powerful steroids Trump has been prescribed have significant side effects including causing agitation, mania, psychosis, and feelings in invincibility.
And Trump himself is being treated as massively contagious.
Any aides who come in contact with him is required to wear a yellow gown, surgical mask and disposable protective eye cover, a report revealed.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the West Wing is one of the most dangerous places in the U.S. right now in terms of the global pandemic and said she will steer clear of the White House.
‘It’s one of the most dangerous places in the country both in terms of the assault that it makes on truth as well as health,’ Pelosi told The View during an interview Wednesday.
White House Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow said Wednesday morning that Donald Trump worked from the Oval Office on Tuesday – sparking confusion as other aides insisted the president had not left the Executive Residence since returning Monday evening
White House Senior Communications Advisor Ben Williamson tweeted Wednesday that ‘While the President wanted to be in the Oval Office yesterday, he was not there’
The comments come as White House personnel who come in contact with Donald Trump are required to wear full personal protective gear as there are still concerns the president could be infecting staff
Those who come in contact with the president are required to wear yellow gowns, surgical masks and disposable protective goggles per Center for Disease Control guidelines
Here a White House cleaning staff member disinfects the press briefing room in a hazmat suit
The California Democrat has not paid a visit to the White House since a tense back-and-forth with the president during a meeting there last year.
She will not break that trend to visit ground zero for a massive coronavirus outbreak as she works to negotiate a deal with the White House and Republicans on the next coronavirus stimulus package.
Trump effectively called off negotiations during a Twitter rampage on Tuesday, but hours later reversed his comments.
‘Nancy Pelosi is asking for $2.4 Trillion Dollars to bailout poorly run, high crime, Democrat States, money that is in no way related to COVID-19. We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith,’ Trump tweeted Tuesday afternoon.
‘I am rejecting their request, and looking to the future of our Country. I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election,’ he wrote.
Later that evening, Trump said American workers ‘desperately’ need another round of relief by way of stimulus legislation.
‘Crazy Nancy Pelosi and the Radical Left Democrats were just playing ‘games’ with the desperately needed Workers Stimulus Payments.They just wanted to take care of Democrat failed, high crime, Cities and States. They were never in it to help the workers, and they never will be!’ he tweeted.
He added later: ‘If I am sent a Stand Alone Bill for Stimulus Checks ($1,200), they will go out to our great people IMMEDIATELY. I am ready to sign right now. Are you listening Nancy?’
As part of a second Twitter rant Wednesday, Trump took aim at Joe Biden and Democrats.
‘He’s been a wacko for years, and everyone knows it,’ the president said of his Democratic rival. ‘The Lamestream Media is stuck with him and they are just now trying to clean up his act. Notice how all of the bad things, like his very low IQ, are no longer reported? Fake News! #MAGA’
In another he wrote: ‘Talks unity but illegally spied on my campaign, and much worse – COUP! Too late for the nice talk Sleepy Joe! VOTE’
He also retweeted a doctored video of Michelle Obama where clips of cities burning during the riots earlier this year played as she railed against Trump and Republicans.
The president didn’t miss his chance to take aim at media during his Twitter spree.
‘THE MEDIA IS CORRUPT, JUST LIKE OUR DEMOCRAT RUN BALLOT SYSTEM IS CORRUPT! Look at what’s happening with Fake, Missing and Fraudulent Ballots all over the Country??? VOTE’ he wrote.
As of Tuesday, the West Wing was virtually empty as nearly two dozen aides, advisers and those within the president’s inner circle have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week – and those still negative have been told to work from home, aides told The New York Times.
While the aides said Trump sounded stronger than before upon the president’s return to the Executive Residence Monday night, they believe at times it appears he is trying to catch his breath.
Trump’s doctors said the president was treated with supplemental oxygen at least two times since he was put in their care.
Those with the White House cleaning team have been pictured disinfecting the press areas in the West Wing while wearing what appears to be full hazmat suits.
The full personal protective attire at one of Washington D.C.’s biggest hot spots fuels worries that Trump could still spread the disease.
Many of Trump’s top aides are now out of commission as they quarantine at home recovering from coronavirus – including much of Trump’s press shop with White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnanay and assistant press secretaries Chad Gilmartin and Karoline Leavitt all testing positive.
Although Trump has been seen wearing a face mask more often as of late, he still continues to refuse to regularly don the protective gear.
Trump announced that he and first lady Melania had tested positive for coronavirus overnight Thursday – the two were prompted to take a test after the president’s counselor Hope Hicks tested positive earlier in the day.
In the midst of confusion over his whereabouts on Tuesday, Trump launched a Twitter tirade Wednesday morning railing against Joe Biden as a ‘wacko’
He also took aim at media
Trump retweeted a doctored video of Michelle Obama showing clips of riots and cities burning earlier this year and she railed against Republicans for painting black Americans as violent
On Friday, the 74-year-old president was transferred to Walter Reed Medical Center where he remained for three nights.
Reports indicated Trump was ‘bored’ and anxious to leave – further evident by his flurry of tweets and videos from the presidential suite at the hospital and his ‘stunt’ car ride to greet from his air-right SUV loyalists posted outside Walter Reed with signs of encouragement for the president’s recovery.
So far, 21 people – including the president and first lady – have tested positive after gathering at two ‘super spreader’ events.
The latest to test positive is White House policy adviser Stephen Miller whose wife, press secretary to Vice President Katie Miller, tested positive earlier this year.
It appears COVID-19 was able to infect so many in the latest outbreak due to last Saturday’s Rose Garden event announcing Amy Coney Barrett as Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nominee and the following day when an event for bereaved military ‘Gold Star’ families that was held indoors at the White House.
Trump was transferred from Walter Reed to the White House Monday evening as his top physician, Dr. Sean Conley, explained the president was being treated with dexamethasone, a steroid; remdesivir, an antiviral medication; and occasional supplemental oxygen.
As the president takes a break from campaigning and many presidential duties as he recuperates from the White House, he has still used his favorite outlet to voice his thoughts and opinions throughout his recovery.
He has taken to social media several times to tweet and retweet on a wide range of topics, including slamming the FBI, FDA, Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chris Wallace.
TRUMP’S INNER CIRCLE WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1
Ronna McDaniel, 47. Chair of the Republican National Convention
McDaniel is thought to have been the first positive case. It was not made public until after Trump’s diagnosis.
She was last in contact with Trump on September 25. McDaniel began isolating on September 26 when a member of her family tested positive. She got her results several days later.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 2
Hope Hicks, 31, Counselor to the President
Hicks was the first case reported and was tied to the President’s positive test.
She flew with him through the week before he was diagnosed and started feeling unwell on her way back from a rally in Minnesota on Wednesday night.
She quarantined on Air Force One to stay away from him.
President Donald Trump, 74
Confirmed positive diagnosis on Friday October 2 at 1am. Was taken to Walter Reed on Friday night, where he remained on Monday afternoon.
Reported symptoms included trouble breathing, lethargy and a fever.
He was given an antibody cocktail on Friday and other treatments.
First Lady Melania Trump, 50
Confirmed positive diagnosis on Friday October 2 at 1am. She has been quarantining in the White House.
She suffered mild symptoms including a cough and a headache but has said repeatedly that she feels ‘good’.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2
Fr. John Jenkins, 66, President of the University of Notre Dame
Jenkins attended the announcement of Amy Coney Barrett as Trump’s Supreme Court Nomination without a mask on Saturday September 25.
The event in the White House Rose Garden is now widely believed to be the source of many of the infections.
He is not thought to have severe symptoms.
Mike Lee, 49, Republican Utah Senator
Lee also attended the event in the Rose Garden and he was seen hugging other attendees without a mask on.
He is not thought to have severe symptoms either.
Bill Stepien, 42, Trump’s Campaign Manager
Stepien tested positive after Trump.
He had mild, flu-like symptoms and planned to continue working from home.
He attended Tuesday night’s rally in Cleveland, having flown with Trump and Hicks on Air Force One to and from the event.
Michael Shear, 52, New York Times White House correspondent, and two other unnamed journalists
The journalists’ positive diagnoses were revealed on Friday.
Two attended the SCOTUS event, where they said they were forced into pen like enclosures at the back, with little space between them.
Hardly any of the guests at the event wore masks, they said.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3
Thom Tillis, 60, Republican North Carolina Senator
Tillis announced that he’d tested positive after routinely testing negative.
He said he was asymptomatic.
‘Over the last few months, I’ve been routinely tested for COVID-19, including testing negative last Saturday, but tonight my rapid antigen test came back positive,’ he said in a statement.
Chris Christie, 58, Former New Jersey Governor
Christie has been at the White House frequently in recent weeks and was at the SCOTUS event.
He tested positive on Saturday and checked himself into hospital, he said, out of an abundance of caution because of his health conditions including asthma.
Nicholas Luna, 29, Chief of Oval Office Operations and ‘body man’
Luna’s job requirements involve following Trump around at all times.
He tested positive on Saturday night, more than 24 hours after President Trump did
Ron Johnson, 65, Republican Wisconsin Senator
Johnson still attended an Oktoberfest event on Friday night while awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, despite knowing he had come into contact with others who had tested positive.
He defended it, saying he was asymptomatic
SUNDAY OCTOBER 4
Kellyanne Conway, 53, Former White House Counselor to the President
Conway and her daughter have both tested positive.
The daughter, Claudia, revealed on Tik Tok that her mom had been coughing all over their home
MONDAY OCTOBER 5
Kayleigh McEnany, 32, White House Press Secretary
McEnany had tested negative last week after Trump’s diagnosis and she continued giving press conferences without a mask on until Sunday
Chad Gilmartin. Assistant Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt, Assistant Press Secretary
Two unnamed staff members who work in the White House residence.
They were told to use ‘discretion’ when discussing it, according to The New York Times
TUESDAY OCTOBER 6
Stephen Miller, 35, White House policy advisor
Miller had been working remotely for five days, and tested negative for coronavirus each day prior to testing positive, the administration said.