President Trump And First Lady Test Positive For COVID-19

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President Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart the White House Tuesday for the first televised presidential debate. The president announced early Friday that he and the first lady have tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Washington Post via Getty Images

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The Washington Post via Getty Images

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White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, counselor to the president Hope Hicks and senior policy adviser Stephen Miller walk across the South Lawn before departing the White House late last month.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, counselor to the president Hope Hicks and senior policy adviser Stephen Miller walk across the South Lawn before departing the White House late last month.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Thursday evening, Trump confirmed that Hicks «did test positive» for COVID-19 and said he and his wife had both gotten tested for the virus after the news broke.

«Whether we quarantine or whether we have it, I don’t know,» Trump said earlier in the evening.

«We’ll see what happens. Who knows,» he said, adding «I spend a lot of time with Hope. So does the first lady.»

He then tweeted that he and the first lady «will begin our quarantine process.»

For months, President Trump has downplayed the severity of the virus and contradicted medical professionals on the importance of wearing masks. At recent rallies, large crowds have gathered, with many in the audience opting against wearing the widely recommended face masks.

Trump himself is rarely seen wearing a mask in public, citing the frequency of COVID-19 testing for both himself and his staff.

In the Thursday Fox News interview, Trump said Hicks wore «a lot of masks.»

So far, more than 200,000 Americans have died of the virus. Globally, coronavirus has been responsible for more than 1 million deaths.

Trump’s campaign has scheduled a rally in Sanford, Fla., on Friday night and two rallies in Wisconsin on Saturday. There was no immediate word on whether the rallies would continue or be canceled.

• COVID-19
• hope hicks
• First Lady
• trump
• coronavirus