President Donald Trump announced Friday that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and will immediately enter isolation.
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” Trump tweeted.
The first lady also tweeted that she and the president are “feeling good” and she has postponed all upcoming engagements.
The announcement comes just hours after senior White House aid Hope Hicks confirmed she tested positive for the novel coronavirus. She began experiencing symptoms following a rally in Minnesota and traveled with the president several times this week.
Trump’s physician said in a memo that both the president and the first lady are “well at this time” and will be staying at the White House. “Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering,” he added.
Vice President Mike Pence said on Twitter that he is praying for President Trump and Melania. The Vice President and his wife Second Lady Karen Pence have now tested negative for the virus.
“Karen and I send our love and prayers to our dear friends @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS Melania Trump. We join millions across America praying for their full and swift recovery. God bless you President Trump & our wonderful First Lady Melania” Pence Tweeted.
The president is 74, putting him at higher risk for serious complications from the virus.
Here are some more of the prayers that have been pouring in for the president and first lady:
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says, “Fran and I join our fellow Ohioans in praying for President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump after they announced early today that they have both tested positive for COVID-19.”
Evangelist Franklin Graham tweets: “Early this morning, President @realDonaldTrump and First Lady @MelaniaTrump announced that, like many other Americans, they have tested positive for the coronavirus. Please join me in praying especially for them, that they would have a quick recovery.”
Pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie says: “Let’s all be praying for God’s intervention and healing for our President and First Lady!”
Dan Scavino, Assistant to the President and White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, tweets: “POTUS & FLOTUS are doing GREAT! Here’s to a speedy recovery, with prayers and much love, on behalf of everyone down here in the West Wing! Along with millions of others, we extend our prayers and best wishes to the President and First Lady during this time for a speedy recovery and for their good health.”
Author and prophecy expert Joel Rosenberg writes, “The Bible commands believers to “pray for kings and all those in authority” — I join millions of Evangelicals in praying for President @realDonaldTrump and for the First Lady for the Lord to quickly heal them and protect them from harm. Praying for all our leaders today, as well”.
House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, a survivor of an assassination attempt by a crazed left-wing gunman, tweeted his prayers for the president and first lady: “Praying for a swift recovery for @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS. They’re fighters, and will beat this together.”
Shortly after Trump’s announcement, the White House issued an updated schedule for Friday which consisted only of a phone call on “COVID-19 support to vulnerable seniors.” Trump had been scheduled to attend a rally in Sanford, Florida on Friday evening.
The positive results raise concerns that other high-level members of the government have also been exposed to the virus just weeks before the Nov. 3 election.
Trump has faced sharp criticism for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic that has infected some 7 million people and killed more than 205,000 in the US.
Trump has refused to wear a mask for months and criticized his opponent Joe Bien for regularly wearing a mask in public. Health professionals say wearing a mask is critical to reducing the spread of the virus.
“I don’t wear masks like him,” Trump said of Biden at Tuesday night’s presidential debate. “Every time you see him, he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away from me, and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.”
There was no immediate comment from the Biden Campaign on whether the candidate has been tested since attending the debate.
The president predicted on Thursday that the end of the pandemic was coming soon, and the US was “rounding the corner.”