Trump news: President’s condition ‘very concerning’ on Friday despite assurances, top aide admits
Read today’s updates from the White House
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Your support makes all the difference.There were conflicting reports over the status of President Trump’s health on Saturday after he was hospitalised following his coronavirus diagnosis.
Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters that Mr Trump went through a “very concerning” period on Friday, and said the next 48 hours will “be critical” to his care.
His comments contradicted an earlier assessment of Mr Trump’s health by the president’s doctor, Dr Sean Conley.
Dr Conley, who said Mr Trump was “doing very well", was forced to clarify remarks he made during a press conference on Saturday morning that suggested Mr Trump learned of his diagnosis 72 hours ago.
Had the president been diagnosed on Wednesday, that would mean he attended a fundraiser in Minneapolis, held a rally later that night and flew on Air Force One to attend another fundraiser in New Jersey the next day, all while being infected with the coronavirus that has killed more than 200,000 Americans.
Dr Conley subsequently said that he misspoke and that Mr Trump was three days into his illness.
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Questions over timeline of president’s Covid-19 diagnosis
New questions have emerged surrounding the timeline of President Donald Trump’s Covid-19 diagnosis, including whether he or people around him knew he was infected with the novel virus as he continued to travel across the country.
White House physician Sean Connelly told reporters outside of the Walter Reed Medical Center on Saturday morning that Mr Trump’s condition had improved 72 hours into his diagnosis, which would mean he tested positive for Covid-19 sometime on Wednesday.
White House facing questions over timeline of Trump’s Covid-19 diagnosis
White House officials forced to backtrack comments from president’s team of physicians about when he tested positive for the novel virus
Source claims president’s health “very concerning” despite doctor’s positive assessment
A source familiar with the president’s health told reporters that Mr Trump’s condition is worse than what reports coming from the president’s medical team suggest.
“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 source said.
The claim contradicts the generally positive update given by Mr Trump’s doctor, Dr Sean Conley, during a press conference this morning.
Dr Conley claimed Mr Trump is “doing very well" and said that, at the moment “there is no cause for concern.”
Just after the press conference, but before the anonymous statement regarding Mr Trump’s health was sent to reporters, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was seen talking with the press and requesting his comments remain off-the-record.
Trump tweets from medical center, “I am feeling well!”
Mr Trump wrote a tweet praising the medical staff at Walter Reed Medical Center and claiming he was “feeling well” shortly after a source close to the president told reporters that his vitals were “very concerning.”
Trump’s doctor issues clarification regarding timeline of president’s diagnosis
Dr Sean Conley, the doctor treating Mr Trump at Walter Reed Medical Centre, issued a memo today clarifying the statements he made during a press conference this morning that suggested Mr Trump learned of his diagnosis 72 hours ago, which would have been Wednesday morning.
“This morning while summarizing the President’s health, I incorrectly used the term ”seventy two hours" instead of “day three” and “forty eight hours” instead of “day two” with regards to his diagnosis and the administration of the polyclonal antibody therapy.
The President was first diagnosed with Covid-19 on the evening of Thursday, October 1st and had received Regeron’s antibody cocktail on Friday, October 2nd."
Source claims Trump received supplemental oxygen Friday
A source close to the White House told reporters that Mr Trump received supplemental oxygen on Friday.
The source told the press pool that Mr Trump “definitely has had oxygen” and had difficulty breathing.
Another source from within Mr Trump’s administration told reporters earlier today that Mr Trump’s health was much worse than what the president’s doctors were reporting.
Mike Pence tests negative for coronavirus ahead of debate and rally
Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence tested negative for Covid-19 on Saturday morning.
Following Mr Pence's first coronavirus test on Friday, his physician released a statement that said the vice president did not need to quarantine.
Mike Pence tests negative for coronavirus ahead of debate and rally
The VP still intends to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah on Monday
Former Homeland Security Adviser said Trump should transfer power if put on oxygen
Mr Trump’s former Homeland Security Adviser, Tom Bossert, said Mr Trump should transfer power to Vice President Mike Pence if he required supplemental oxygen during his bout with Covid-19.
Mr Bossert said that would be one of two situations in which the president should transfer power.
“Where we should all be worried about, the mark that we should all be looking to, is if his condition deteriorates to the point where he needs to be put on oxygen, or, God forbid, if he needs to intubated,” he said. “Being placed on oxygen or being intubated for a man of his age with this virus would be a very bad sign and that’s when, if I were on his staff still, I’d be advising him to sign that letter in giving Mike Pence the temporary authority to act as president.”
The former Homeland Security Adviser made the comments on ABC News Thursday night.
Earlier today, a source close to the White House told reporters that Mr Trump had required supplemental oxygen at the White House prior before he left for Walter Reed Medical Center.
Attorney General William Barr says he won’t quarantine despite contact with Trump
Mr Barr tested negative for Covid-19 on Friday morning, and was not displaying symptoms. He had been in the same room as Mr Trump last Saturday, and was at the White House on Thursday prior to the announcement that Mr Trump had contracted the virus.
When reporters asked the US Department of Justice why Mr Barr wasn’t quarantining following his close contact with Mr Trump, a spokeswoman emphasised that Mr Barr did not test positive for the virus.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends individuals stay at home for at least 14 days if they suspect they were exposed to Covid-19.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel says Senate will not meet following Covid-19 cases in three senators
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel said he will pursue a consent agreement to push the Senate’s return to session from Monday back until 19 October.
The confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney, who Mr Trump has selected to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the US Supreme Court, will begin during that session.
"If it's too dangerous to have the Senate in session, it is also too dangerous for committee hearings to continue," Mr McConnell said in a statement.
The announcement comes after three Republican senators - Ron Johnson, Mike Lee and Thom Tillis - tested positive for the coronavirus.
Associated Press confirms Mark Meadows’ gave health report contradicting Mr Trump’s doctors
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters that Mr Trump went through a “very concerning” period on Friday, and said the next 48 hours will “be critical” to his care.
“We’re still not on a clear path yet to a full recovery,” Mr Meadows said.
Mr Meadows appeared on a video talking to reporters and requested that his comments remain off-the-record. He spoke to the reporters after the doctor’s press conference but before emails with his comments began circulating to White House pool reporters.
The comments painted a much different picture than those given by Mr Trump’s doctor, Dr Sean Conley, during a press conference this morning.
Dr Conley said Mr Trump was “doing very well," and claimed the president did not require oxygen on Thursday or Friday.
Another source close to the White House speaking anonymously to reporters claimed that Mr Trump was struggling to breathe on Friday and required supplemental oxygen.
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