WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he and first lady Melania Trump are awaiting their own test
results after a top aide he spent substantial time with this week tested positive for COVID-19.
"Whether we quarantine or whether we have it, I don’t know," Trump said during a call-in
interview with Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity on Thursday night. "I just went for a test and we’ll
see what happens."
Trump made the comments following news that Hope Hicks, one his closest aides, tested positive for the
coronavirus after spending time in close proximity to him this week.
Hicks, who serves as counselor to Trump and traveled with him to a rally Wednesday, tested positive
Thursday, according to an administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss
private health information. She is the most senior White House official to test positive so far.
Trump said he expected to have the results back either Thursday night or Friday morning.
The White House had not responded earlier to multiple questions about the last time Trump was tested and
whether he and other staffers who spent time with Hicks in recent days will be asked to quarantine.
Trump traveled to New Jersey Thursday for a fundraiser. His social media director Dan Scavino and press
secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who were originally set to join him on the trip, were replaced at the last
minute by other aides.
The positive test is yet another reminder that the virus continues to spread, even as Trump has tried
desperately to pretend it no longer poses a danger. Since the beginning, he, the White House and his
campaign have played down the threat and refused to abide by basic public health guidelines — including
those issued by his own administration — such as wearing masks in public and practicing social
distancing. Instead, Trump has continued to hold campaign rallies that draw thousands of supporters. The
virus has killed more than 200,000 Americans and infected more than 7 million nationwide.
In a statement, White House spokesman Judd Deere said the president "takes the health and safety of
himself and everyone who works in support of him and the American people very seriously."
"White House Operations collaborates with the Physician to the President and the White House
Military Office to ensure all plans and procedures incorporate current CDC guidance and best practices
for limiting COVID-19 exposure to the greatest extent possible both on complex and when the President is
traveling," Deere said.
Hicks traveled with the president multiple times this week, including aboard Marine One, the presidential
helicopter, and on Air Force One to a rally in Minnesota Wednesday, and aboard Air Force One to Tuesday
night’s first presidential debate in Cleveland.
Hicks is one of the president’s most trusted and longest-serving aides, having worked as spokesperson for
his 2016 campaign. She originally served as White House as communications director, and re-joined the
administration this year as an adviser ahead of the election. Her positive test was first reported by
Bloomberg News on Thursday evening. She did not respond to a request for comment.
Multiple White House staffers have tested positive for the virus, including Katie Miller, Vice President
Mike Pence’s press secretary, national security adviser Robert O’Brien, and one of the president’s
personal valets.
After earlier positive cases close to the president, the White House instituted a daily testing regimen
for the president’s senior aides. Anyone who will be in close proximity to the president or vice
president is also tested every day, including reporters.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who have been in close
contact with someone with COVID-19 quarantine for 14 days, White House staffers are considered essential
workers. CDC’s guidelines for exposed essential workers allows them to return to work if they take
precautions, including taking their temperature before going into work, wearing a mask at all times and
practicing social distancing.