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President Trump and First Lady Melanie are positive for COVID-19

Last night President Donald Trump took to Twitter to announce that he and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). This announcement followed just hours after White House senior aide, Hope Hicks, was tested positive after traveling with Trump several times this week.

Hicks traveled alongside Trump on several occasions this week aboard Marine One, the presidential helicopter, and on Air Force One for the first presidential debate in Cleveland as well as a rally in Minnesota on Wednesday.

Trump was interviewed by Sean Hannity on Fox News and confirmed that he was awaiting his COVID-19 test results. President Trump also disclosed that the first lady was also awaiting her test results.

President Trump is facing a higher risk of serious complications as he is 74 years old and there are nearly 200,000 fatalities in the US. Trump explained in a tweet that he will be in quarantine with Melania and hopes to recover quickly.

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

In May, Trump said, “I felt no vulnerability whatsoever,” in regards to contracting COVID-19 and has also downplayed the concern of getting COVID-19 even after White House allies and staff were exposed. Trump also encouraged state officials to focus the nation’s attention to reviving the economy and reopen states during mandatory lockdowns.

Everyone who comes into contact with the president receives a quick-result test and the White House added more precautions following the announcement of two White House workers testing positive in May. The White House has nearly-unlimited resources for quick-testing that ultimately failed to keep the president safe and raises questions on how the rest of the country will be able to protect the US population.

President Trump has continually refused to adhere to the recommended health guidelines for COVID-19 including not wearing a face mask and continuing to practice physical contact that his administration advised against to prevent spreading COVID-19.

Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence both tested negative for COVID-19 thus far and will continue regular testing. If Trump becomes medically incapacitated, there will be a transfer of power to Pence is Trump is deemed unable to serve.