Earlier this morning, President Trump revealed that he and the first lady, Melania Trump, had tested positive for the coronavirus. The news comes after close presidential adviser Hope Hicks said she had been infected. In her own tweet, Mrs. Trump wrote that the first couple was “feeling good,” but did not reference if they experienced any symptoms. The President and First Lady will spend the next two weeks quarantining in the White House while the president’s physician will be carrying out his duties from the Executive Mansion. 

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

The president has regularly downplayed the severity of the outbreak that has taken the lives of 207,000 Americans. With barely a month until Election Day, President Trump’s positive result poses immediate challenges for the future of his campaign. He has canceled his plans to fly to Florida for a campaign rally on Friday and stripped his public schedule for the day of everything except a midday telephone call on COVID-19 for vulnerable seniors. The positive tests will also undercut the president’s effort to focus voter attention from a pandemic to other areas he considers more favorable (Supreme Court nomination, violence in cities, and mail-in ballots).  

There is no immediate word on how far the infection may have spread among senior White House officials, who generally do not wear masks in deference to the president’s disdain for them, aides report. So far, other top aides infected include Kimberly Guilfoyle, Katie Miller, Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary, and some Secret Service agents. Under the 25th Amendment, a medically incapacitated president can temporarily transfer power to the vice president and then reclaim their authority whenever they deem fit for duty. 

“The president and first lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence,” Dr. Sean P. Conley, the White House physician, said in a statement, adding: “Rest assured I expect the president to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any future developments.”