Just an hour after midnight on October 1st, President Donald Trump revealed on Twitter that he and the First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after close-nit White House advisor, Hope Hicks, also tested positive.
The president, along with his astounding political base, have long been skeptics of the novel coronavirus and its impact on this nation. The phrase he coined to refer to the coronavirus— the “Chinese Virus” — had also sparked controversy within the media. All this, and more, has contributed to the rise of anti-maskers, the politicizing of the coronavirus and, most importantly, the unnecessary deaths of thousands.
The president, however, knew of the virus’s fatal outcomes from the very beginning.
It wasn’t until recently that Americans were exposed to tapes of President Trump expressing his awareness of how serious the virus is back in February, despite downplaying it to the people of America and the media for months.
The recordings were procured by distinguished journalist, Bob Woodward, and upon their release sparked mild controversy. However, those concerns soon faded as President Trump did what he often does when faced with pressure— deflect and attack.
Voters, along with news reporters and political masochists witnessed that same tactic on September 29th during the 90-minute presidential debate. On the topic of COVID-19 and Business Reopening, President Trump showed viewers the mask he had in his jacket pocket and then proceeded to mock Joe Biden for wearing masks.
“I put a mask on, you know, when I think I need it,” said President Trump during the presidential debate.
“I don’t wear masks like him [Joe Biden] every time you see him he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away from it and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen,” he continued.
Now, in the most unanticipated of events, that may have very well seemed to come out of an SNL skit, President Trump and his wife are joined with hundreds and thousands of people who are battling the dangerous disease— many have lost.
After news of President Trump and the First Lady testing positive, Joe Biden was tested and his results came out to be negative for COVID-19. Vice President Mike Pence and the Second Lady, Karen Pence, have also tested negative. But, beyond the impending presidential debates, the question many are asking is: “What will happen now? What do we do going forward?”
President Trump is said to have “mild symptoms” of the coronavirus, according to White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows. And though it may be too soon to tell where this will lead us or how it will impact the next few presidential debates, the existence of the coronavirus at the highest level of government will undoubtedly have adverse effects.
If the symptoms prove severe, the recovery period could take up to weeks. Under the 25th Amendment, the president has the option to temporarily transfer power to Vice President Mike Pence if he is unable to fulfill his role in office.
The Trump campaign released this statement today announcing future events to be postponed, and if not deferred, then transitioned to virtual-base:
The nation is now met with even more uncertainty. In the midst of presidential debates, political and racial tensions, ideological divide— and a pandemic— the leader of America is faced with the exact same thing he could have prevented. Now, all we can do is wait and see what happens next.
