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President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he leaves the White House to go to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after he tested positive for COVID-19.
Alex Brandon/AP
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Alex Brandon/AP
President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he leaves the White House to go to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after he tested positive for COVID-19.
Alex Brandon/AP
President Trump tweeted early Friday morning that he tested positive for the coronavirus. But questions remain about what exactly happened before and after — when the president was first diagnosed, started experiencing symptoms and exactly what treatment he received and when.
On Saturday, White House Physician Sean Conley, for example, told reporters Trump was 72 hours into his diagnosis, but then said in a memo later on that he meant to say three days. Conley refused to say whether Trump had ever received supplemental oxygen this week, and another doctor said Trump received treatment 48 hours ago — also quickly walked back by the White House.
Here’s what we know about what happened when:
Saturday
President Trump hosted a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden to announce his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett.
Eight people who attended the ceremony, including the president, have since tested positive for the coronavirus.
Later that night, Trump flew to Pennsylvania for an outdoor rally. Hope Hicks, one of Trump’s closest aides who would later test positive for the coronavirus, accompanied the president.
Tuesday
President Trump attended the presidential debate in Cleveland. Members of the Trump family and other guests of the president did not wear masks in the debate venue, despite being asked to by Cleveland Clinic staff.
Debate moderator Chris Wallace said on Fox yesterday that Trump wasn’t tested before attending the debate because he arrived late. They went on the honor system, he said.
Wednesday
Hope Hicks walk to Marine One to depart from the South Lawn of the White House on Wednesday.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
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Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Hope Hicks walk to Marine One to depart from the South Lawn of the White House on Wednesday.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Trump flew to Minnesota for a fundraiser and an outdoor rally.
Hope Hicks reportedly started to feel unwell and tried to isolate on the Air Force One ride back to Washington.
Based on Conley’s initial reference to 72 hours since the diagnosis, that would mean Trump was diagnosed mid-day on Wednesday.
The White House later walked Conley’s reference back, saying it had not been 72 hours since the president was diagnosed, saying Conley meant to say it was day 3 since the diagnosis.
Thursday
Hicks reportedly received a positive coronavirus test on Thursday. She had also traveled with the president on Tuesday and Wednesday.
That afternoon, Trump flew to New Jersey for an indoor fundraiser where few people wore masks.
At Saturday’s press conference, Dr. Brian Garibaldi said the president began an experimental antibody therapy “about 48 hours ago.” That would place the beginning of that treatment at mid-day on Thursday, possibly before Trump flew to New Jersey.
The White House has also walked that time reference back, saying Regeneron was administered Thursday night.
That night, Bloomberg News reported that Hope Hicks had been confirmed positive for the coronavirus. In a phone interview on Fox News shortly later that night, Trump said he and first lady Melania Trump had been tested and was awaiting his results.
Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible! The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
Doctors later said Trump had a fever “Thursday into Friday,” but didn’t say how high it was.
Friday
Shortly after 1 a.m., Trump tweeted that he and his wife had tested positive for the coronavirus.
On Monday morning, Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, told reporters outside the White House that President Trump had “mild symptoms.”
That morning, Melania Trump tweeted that she had mild symptoms, but overall was feeling good.
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
In an interview on Fox News, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump had announced his own coronavirus test result within an hour of receiving it.
That afternoon, around 4 p.m. ET the White House announced that the president had received a dose of Regeneron, the experimental drug cocktail that’s show promising results improving coronavirus symptoms. Dr. Conley wrote that Trump was “fatigued but in good spirits.”
After 6 p.m. Trump left the White House via helicopter for Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The president tweeted a video of himself recorded earlier in the White House thanking supporters for their well wishes. He gave a thumbs up to reporters as he walked to Marine One.
Throughout the day, additional coronavirus positives were confirmed who had been in the president’s orbit, including two members of the U.S. Senate.
Just before midnight, the president’s physician released a letter saying Trump had started his first dose of Remdesivir therapy.
Doctors later said Trump had a fever Friday morning but not the rest of the day.
Saturday
Dr. Sean Conley, physician to President Donald Trump, briefs reporters at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Susan Walsh/AP
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Susan Walsh/AP
Dr. Sean Conley, physician to President Donald Trump, briefs reporters at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Susan Walsh/AP
Conley and doctors at Walter Reed briefed the press Saturday morning. Conley said he was “extremely happy” with the progress being made and Trump’s fatigue and mild cough were improving. He said Trump had been fever free for 24 hours.
Conley would not directly answer whether Trump had received any oxygen during the course of the illness, but said that he had not received any on Saturday and was walking around. He also said Trump did not receive supplemental oxygen Thursday or Friday afternoon once at Walter Reed.
Shortly after, a White House official took a less rosy tone, telling pool reporters that “The president’s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery.”
The White House then walked back the timeline given by Conley and other doctors at the press conference, saying that President Trump was diagnosed and began receiving treatment Thursday night.
Trump fired off a tweet not too long after, saying he was “feeling well.”
Doctors, Nurses and ALL at the GREAT Walter Reed Medical Center, and others from likewise incredible institutions who have joined them, are AMAZING!!!Tremendous progress has been made over the last 6 months in fighting this PLAGUE. With their help, I am feeling well!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 3, 2020
The White House initially said Trump would be at Walter Reed for a “few days.” On Saturday, doctors said they were re-evaluating each day and that if he needs the full five-day course of Remdesivir, he would stay at Walter Reed to receive it.
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