Trump had an extensive list of meetings and events the week prior to testing positive for COVID-19
Brian Snyder/Reuters
- President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.
- Trump was tested after White House counselor Hope Hicks tested positive earlier this week.
- Trump attended an extensive list of meetings, a rally, fundraisers, and debate this week.
- He also met with several prominent figures including Democratic nominee Joe Biden and Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
- Other members of his administration including Stephen Miller and Jared Kushner also met with Hicks this week.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
President Donald Trump and the first lady tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday.
Trump was tested after White House counselor Hope Hicks tested positive earlier this week.
White House Physician Sean Conley issued a statement confirming the diagnosis, which said 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."
The president attended an extensive list of meetings, a rally, and the first presidential debate against Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the week leading up to his diagnoses:
- Saturday, September 26: Trump announced his nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, in the White House Rose Garden. Trump later held a rally in Middletown, Pennsylvania.
- Sunday, September 27: Trump went to one of his golf clubs, and later held a press conference where former Gov. Chris Christie and former Mayor Rudi Giuliani were present.
- Monday, September 28: Held an event on South Lawn for a Lordstown Motors electric pickup truck event. Later held a Rose Garden event to update the public on coronavirus testing.
- Tuesday, September 29: First presidential debate held between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden in Cleveland, Ohio.
- Wednesday, September 30: Trump has a campaign rally in Duluth, Minnesota. He also held a private fundraiser in Lake Minnetonka.
- Thursday, October 1: Trump held a fundraising event at his New Jersey golf club.
Hicks accompanied Trump aboard Air Force One to and from the first presidential debate on Tuesday.
She was also in close contact with White House adviser Stephen Miller, campaign adviser Jason Miller, Jared Kushner, Dan Scavino, and Nicholas Luna, who were not wearing masks.
At the debate, Trump mocked Biden for being vigilant about wearing a face covering to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
"I put a mask on when I think I need it," Trump said. "Every time you see him, he's got a mask."
On Wednesday, Hicks also traveled with Trump and attended a Trump rally in Minnesota, CNN reported.
Local outlet KDLH reported that thousands gathered for the rally, and local lawmakers even joined Trump on stage.
CNN reported that Trump attended a fundraising trip to New Jersey on Thursday.
Trump's most notable contacts this week include Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and Biden, though there is currently no evidence either was exposed. On Saturday, Trump stood just feet away from Barrett.
Insider reached out to the Biden campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The US has the highest number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 in the world. There have been more than 7.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US and over 207,000 reported fatalities, per Johns Hopkins.
Trump has downplayed the threat of the virus from the start, which he admitted to veteran journalist Bob Woodward in an interview back in March. The president said he was deliberately downplaying the dangers of the virus to avoid inducing "panic."
Public health experts have repeatedly excoriated Trump's approach to the pandemic and warned that his anti-science approach has exacerbated the US outbreak.
Trump is not the first world leader to be infected with the virus. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive in July, for example, as did British Prime Minister Boris Johnson back in March. While the virus has proved deadly for over one million people worldwide, both leaders are still alive.
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