“She tested positive, I just heard about this. She tested positive. She’s a hard worker. Lots of masks, she wears a mask but she tested positive. Then I’ll go out with a test. I’ll see – You know, because we spent a lot of time – and the first lady just went out with a test. So, if we separate that we have, I don’t know, “Trump said during a call-in preference. Fox News’ “Hannity.”
He added, “I just went for a test and we’ll see what happens, I mean, who knows. … I spent a lot of time with Hope and the first lady too, and that’s awesome.”
Hick has traveled several times with the president recently, including in Cleveland on Tuesday, and was seen riding on Marine One alongside Jared Kushner, Dan Scavino and Nicolas Luna, close to the president – none of whom Wearing a mask on Wednesday, Trump was heading to a campaign rally in Minnesota.
Amid the Trump administration’s continued efforts to clearly ignore science and best public health practices during the epidemic, news of Hicks’ positive test comes, with West Wing staff actively defending the mask and the president rejecting the recommendations of his coronavirus task force. Schedule of packed campaign rallies. Trump and his key aides have shown little interest in changing the methods of their employees to meet the needs of the moment.
The president’s public schedule, published only after his appearance on “Hennity”, indicates that he will not observe any quarantine. Trump will travel to Sanford, Florida, to attend a fundraiser for a campaign rally on Friday at his Washington hotel.
Trump speculated that Hicks contracted the virus through interactions with supporters.
“She’s a very loving person. She has a hard time, when soldiers and law enforcement come to her. You know, she wants to treat them great, not by saying, ‘Stay away, I’m not close to you.’ I can come. ‘ It is a very difficult disease, “he said.
A source close to Hicks told CNN she is experiencing symptoms and is back in Washington Washington. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. CNN Hicks has been reached for comment.
White House spokesman Judd Deere told CNN about the level of contact between Hicks and Trump: “The president takes the health and safety of himself and everyone who works in support of him and the American people very seriously.
The White House made no mention of Hicks by name, nor did it confirm that he had tested positive.
“White House Operations collaborates with the President and the White House Military Office Fees with physicians to ensure that all plans and actions are best possible in both the complex and while the President is traveling. Deere added.
Some White House staff who were nearby were informed of the positive test result today, an official said.
Long seen as a steady force on the bosses who choose chaos, Hicks joined the Trump organization working with Ivanka Trump in public relations and led Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign at the start of the race. She was one of the few aides to follow him from the White House’s political beginnings.
Hicks maintained close ties not only with the president but also with his family members, including White House advisers Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner. She previously served as the White House Director of Communications.
Hicks’ positive test shows the unique challenge facing White House staff as they try to keep the epidemic out of the West Wing when the president forces the country to reopen.
Trump had previously expressed concern that the coronavirus contracting aids had undermined his message that an outbreak had occurred and that states should expedite the reopening work, a person who spoke with him said.
The White House has since gone to great lengths to save Trump and Vice President Mike Pence from an outbreak, though he goes to states where cases are on the rise.
White House Press Secretary Kyle McKinney previously described Trump as “America’s most tested man,” who does not risk spreading the virus to others. But Trump contradicted that claim hours later, saying he was not aware of the time he took for more than one coronavirus test in a single day.
Trump responded to a reporter who asked why he was tested more than once a day. “I probably do the average test every two days, three days, and I don’t know if I’ve taken it twice a day, but I can see it.”
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
Paul LeBlanc of CNN contributed to this report.