White House officials, Trump family members, and other close confidants traveled in recent days with President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and presidential adviser Hope Hicks, three people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
The president traveled on Tuesday to Cleveland, Ohio, for the first presidential debate against former Vice President Joe Biden, on Air Force One, with Hicks as part of his entourage. Biden is expected to get tested for COVID-19 on Friday, early reports indicate.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who along with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani helped Trump prepare for the debate, told ABC he was at the White House Saturday through Tuesday and that he was tested every day. Christie said the preparation group was about five to six people and that “no one was wearing masks in the room.”
[LIST: People in Trump’s orbit tested for COVID-19]
Hicks was also with Trump when he traveled to Minnesota on Wednesday for campaign events. NBC News reports Hicks tested negative for COVID-19 that morning but that she started to develop symptoms in the evening, around the time Trump held a rally, and quarantined herself aboard Air Force One.
Hicks was tested for COVID-19, and a positive result came back Thursday morning. The president flew to Bedminster, New Jersey, on Thursday for a private fundraiser. CNN reports that White House officials knew at this point that Hicks had tested positive for COVID-19, but Trump went to the fundraiser anyway.
After Hicks tested positive, the president and the first lady were tested for COVID-19. Reports about Hicks testing positive emerged Thursday evening, and around 1 a.m. Friday, Trump tweeted that he and the first lady tested positive for COVID-19 and would begin to self-quarantine immediately.
During this time, Hicks and the Trumps were surrounded by others, a chart about which was shared by the NBC News White House unit. Among them were chief of staff Mark Meadows, all of Trump’s adult children, aides such as Stephen Miller and Dan Scavino, and Trump campaign officials including campaign manager Bill Stepien and adviser Jason Miller.
A list of people who recently traveled with Hope Hicks, one of the president’s closest senior advisers. Hicks, President Trump and the first lady have tested positive for the coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/YCIlCSsW1Y
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 2, 2020
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, too, traveled with Hicks, and she held a news briefing with reporters in the middle of the day on Thursday. She told ABC News that she was unaware of Hicks’ positive test at the time she held the briefing.
CNN’s Dana Bash reported Friday that Hicks, who helped the president with debate preparation before Tuesday’s event, “is quite symptomatic.”
White House physician Sean Conley said the president and first lady are doing well and “remain at home within the White House during their convalescence.” Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen have tested negative for COVID-19, a press secretary for the vice president tweeted Friday morning.
On Friday night, Sen. Thom Tillis said he tested positive for the coronavirus and will be “self-isolating at home for 10 days.”
Russell Dye, a spokesman for Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee who recently traveled with the president, said the congressman’s coronavirus test results were negative.
“Mr. Jordan looks forward to continuing to work hard for the people of Ohio’s Fourth District,” a statement reads.
In a tweet Friday night, former presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway, who was at the public event where Trump announced Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court nominee, said she tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing mild symptoms.
“I have begun a quarantine process in consultation with physicians,” Conway tweeted.
