President Donald Trump announced on Thursday night that he and the first lady have started quarantining after being potentially exposed to the coronavirus, which originated in China.
“Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19,” Trump tweeted. “Terrible! The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!”
Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible! The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
“Some people close to Hicks were told that she is experiencing symptoms of the disease,” Bloomberg News reported. “Hicks was seen on Tuesday riding maskless in a staff van with White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, campaign adviser Jason Miller and others. When they returned to Washington on Tuesday, Stephen Miller and Hicks were seen sharing an umbrella as they exited Air Force One in the rain. … Hicks felt poorly in Minnesota on Wednesday and was quarantined aboard Air Force One during the return flight, according to people familiar with the matter.”
Trump was asked about Hicks’ diagnosis during an interview Thursday night on Fox News with host Sean Hannity.
“So, she did test positive. I just heard about this. She tested positive,” Trump said. She’s a hard worker. A lot of masks. So, she wears masks a lot. But she tested positive. And I just went out with a test. I’ll see what — because we spend a lot of time. And the first lady just went out with a test also. So, whether we quarantine, or whether we have it, I don’t know.”
“You know, it’s very hard. When you’re with soldiers, when you’re with airmen, when you’re with Marines, and I’m with — and the police officers,” Trump continued. “I’m with them so much. And when they come over here, it’s very hard to say, stay back, stay back. It’s a tough kind of a situation. It’s a terrible thing. So, I just went for a test, and we will see what happens.”
“But you know her very well. She’s fantastic. And she’s done a great job,” Trump continued in his remarks on Hicks. “But it’s very, very hard when you are with people from the military or for law enforcement. And they come over to you, and they want to hug you, and they want to kiss you, because we really have done a good job for them. And you get close, and things happen.”
“I was surprised to hear with Hope. But she’s a very warm person with them. And she — she knows there’s a risk. But she’s young,” the president concluded. “And I just — I just went out for a test. They just do it. It will come back later, I guess, and the first lady also, because we spend a lot of time with Hope and others. So, we will see what happens.”
This report has been updated to include additional information.