White House Weekly

We begin on Friday, October 2nd, following his announcement late into Thursday night that he and the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19, President Trump leaves the White House for Walter Reed Military Medical Center “out of an abundance of caution.”

As a result of Trump’s positive test, the Trump campaign postpones all future campaign events. Vice President Mike Pence tests negative for the virus while campaign manager Bill Stepien and former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway test positive. Senators Ron Johnson, Thom Tillis, and Mike Lee also tested positive.

It’s a very sobering moment for the presidency. Faced with a deadly virus with a month until the election created the type of chaos you only see from a so-called October surprise.

Saturday, October 3rd, mixed messages emerge from the White House after Trump’s physician Dr. Sean Conley paints a rosy characterization of the president’s health status. Following the briefing at Walter Reed, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, in an off the record conversation, tells reporters that Trump’s vital signs were far more concerning than what was previously stated, saying he needed to be put on supplemental oxygen. Later, Trump emerges on Twitter, posting a video of his progress.

Meanwhile, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announces he tested positive for COVID-19. Christie, along with several other high profile Republicans, attended the ceremony of Judge Amy Coney Barrett being nominated to the Supreme Court at the White House. He checked into a hospital as a precautionary measure.

Sunday, October 4th, the President briefly leaves Walter Reed in his motorcade to wave at supporters and well-wishers gathered outside.

Trump later puts out a video on his Twitter, saying that he’s “learned a lot” about the virus.

Monday, October 5th, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany announces she tested positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Trump finally leaves Walter Reed back for the White House where he’ll continue treatment. When arriving back at the South Lawn, Trump climbed up the stairs, took off his mask, and posed for the cameras. He later puts out a video on his Twitter, telling Americans to not let the virus dominate their lives.

Tuesday, October 6th, President Trump announces that he’s closing all negotiations with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on a coronavirus relief bill until after the election. Hours later, he reverses course hoping to negotiate for a stand-alone bill that sends $1,200 stimulus checks to struggling Americans.

Later, it’s reported that top White House aide Stephen Miller tests positive for COVID-19.

Wednesday, October 7th, despite isolation rules and concerns about the spread of coronavirus, President Trump returns to work at the Oval Office. He releases a video on Twitter, saying it’s great to be back and promotes the drug Regeneron.

Later, Vice President Mike Pence debates Sen. Kamala Harris in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the two depart from the first presidential with some civility. In spite of that civility, both candidates dodged virtually every question from the debate moderator and lobbed attacks at each other instead.

Thursday, October 8th, after the Commission on Presidential Debates announces that the second debate will be virtual due to coronavirus concerns, President Trump tells Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo that he’s not going to do the debate if it’s virtual.

It was a scary week for the White House as the Rose Garden ceremony in which Amy Coney Barrett was nominated to the Supreme Court may have been a “super spreader” event for coronavirus, and we truly don’t know the extent of the damage.