Trump news: President’s condition ‘very concerning’ on Friday despite assurances, top aide admits

Read today’s updates from the White House

Donald Trump taken to hospital hours after testing positive for Covid-19

There were conflicting reports over the status of President Trump’s health on Saturday after he was hospitalised following his coronavirus diagnosis.

Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters that Mr Trump went through a “very concerning” period on Friday, and said the next 48 hours will “be critical” to his care.  

His comments contradicted an earlier assessment of Mr Trump’s health by the president’s doctor, Dr Sean Conley.

Dr Conley, who said Mr Trump was “doing very well", was forced to clarify remarks he made during a press conference on Saturday morning that suggested Mr Trump learned of his diagnosis 72 hours ago.

Had the president been diagnosed on Wednesday, that would mean he attended a fundraiser in Minneapolis, held a rally later that night and flew on Air Force One to attend another fundraiser in New Jersey the next day, all while being infected with the coronavirus that has killed more than 200,000 Americans.

Dr Conley subsequently said that he misspoke and that Mr Trump was three days into his illness. 

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Key Points

• Source claims president’s health “very concerning” despite doctor’s positive assessment
• Questions over timeline of president’s Covid-19 diagnosis
• President ‘doing very well’, says White House physician
• Doctor evades question of whether Trump received oxygen
• President ‘struggling to breathe’, report says
• Trump tweets about getting out of hospital
• Eric Trump says father is a ‘true warrior’
• More than a dozen of president’s allies test positive

[3 October 2020 21:20 · Graig Graziosi]

Kellyanne Conway tests positive for coronavirus

Kellyanne Conway, former counselor to Donald Trump, has tested positive for the coronavirus.  

Ms Conway joins a growing number of senior figures who have confirmed they are positive for the virus in recent days. Mr Trump announced he and First Lady Melania have Covid-19 in the early hours of Friday.

[3 October 2020 21:45 · Graig Graziosi]

Mitch McConnell says he spoke to Trump

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he took a phone call with Mr Trump today. He said the president sounded well and said they discussed party goals. 

“We talked about the people’s business — fighting the pandemic, confirming Judge Barrett, and strengthening the economy for American families. Let’s keep our President & First Lady in our prayers.”

Earlier today, Mr McConnell said he would seek to push the Senate’s return date back from Monday until 19 Oct., as three Republican senators have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. 

Mr McConnell indicated he was still committed to confirming US Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett even though two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee - Senators Mike Lee and Thom Tillis - had to go into quarantine after contracting the virus.