U.S. President Trump Has Tested Positive for COVID-19

Suzy Woltmann

Health

2nd October 2020

U.S. President Trump Has Tested Positive for COVID-19

Donald and Melania tested positive just hours after Hicks' diagnosis (Getty Images).

The Claim

U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, have tested positive for COVID-19.

News posted on

Emerging story

On October 1, 2020, Trump tweeted that his top aide Hope Hicks had tested positive for COVID-19.

Just over two hours later, he tweeted that he and Melania had also tested positive.

The claim immediately went viral on social media, with some condemning the President for his response to the pandemic and others wishing him a speedy recovery.

Many pointed out that Trump made fun of Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden’s mask-wearing at the recent debate.

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar’s investigation found that POTUS and FLOTUS have tested positive for coronavirus. After Trump’s tweet, the President’s physician, Navy Commander Dr. Sean Conley, confirmed the diagnosis in a memo directed at reporters.

This presents the gravest known health threat to a sitting American president in years, leading many to speculate about what will happen if the sitting president is incapacitated.

Thus far, Trump’s symptoms are mild, and Vice President Mike Pence has tested negative.