PRESIDENT TRUMP TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

KAYLA MARTHALER, TRUMPET MANAGING EDITOR

President Donald J. Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, have contracted COVID-19, he announced early Friday morning on Twitter.

“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19,” President Trump said in a tweet. “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”

The announcement came hours after it was reported that Trump’s adviser, Hope Hicks, who the president had been traveling with, tested positive for COVID-19.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, Jill Biden and vice-presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris tested negative Friday, as did Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence.

“Thank you to everyone for your messages of concern,” Biden said in a tweet. “I hope this serves as a reminder: wear a mask, keep social distance, and wash your hands.”

President Trump is reported to be feeling “mild symptoms” by Mark Meadows, White House chief of staff.

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The announcement causes another bout of uncertainty for the country leading up to the general election, as Trump has spent much of the year downplaying the pandemic after the virus has killed more than 205,000 Americans, according to The New York Times.

For months, Trump has refused to wear a mask in public on all but a few occasions and has repeatedly questioned their effectiveness.

Due to his quarantine, Trump has been forced to cancel several campaign events with the election 32 days away.