BETHESDA, Md. — President Donald Trump’s doctor says he is doing “very well” as he spends the weekend at a military hospital for treatment of COVID-19.
Navy Commander Dr. Sean Conley said Trump has been fever-free for 24 hours as he updates the nation on the president’s condition from the hospital Saturday morning.
Trump was transferred to the military hospital on Friday afternoon in what doctors say was a precaution after he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19. He has not transferred powers.
While Conley said the president is not currently on oxygen, he refused to say whether the president had ever been on oxygen, despite repeated questioning.
However, it’s now been confirmed that Trump was administered supplemental oxygen at the White House hours after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and before being flown to Walter Reed Medical Center. A person familiar with Trump’s condition said Trump had been given oxygen at the White House.
Conley said that Trump’s symptoms, including a cough and nasal congestion “are now resolving and improving.”
He says the president has “a lot of work to do” and is doing it.
The president tweeted Saturday, thanking the staff at Walter Reed:
Doctors, Nurses and ALL at the GREAT Walter Reed Medical Center, and others from likewise incredible institutions who have joined them, are AMAZING!!!Tremendous progress has been made over the last 6 months in fighting this PLAGUE. With their help, I am feeling well!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 3, 2020
Doctors say the president told them: “I feel like I could walk out of here today.”
Others close to Trump among those with the virus
First lady Melania Trump had mild symptoms, including a cough and headache, Conley confirmed Friday afternoon. She has not been hospitalized.
Besides the president and first lady, several others who have been around the president in recent days have tested positive for the virus. On Thursday, Trump confirmed his top aide Hope Hicks tested positive for the virus. Hicks was seen on board Marine One on Wednesday, and was reportedly symptomatic later in the day.
Sens. Mike Lee and Thom Tillis, former White House aide Kellyanne Conway Notre Dame President John I. Jenkins and RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel all announced they were positive for the coronavirus on Friday. Hicks, Conway, Lee, Tillis and Jenkins were in attendance for last Saturday’s announcement that Trump would chose Amy Coney Barrett to be the next Supreme Court Justice.
All but Tillis are symptomatic.
Also, CNN and Politico reported that Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien has tested positive for the coronavirus.
A number of other key government officials, most notably Vice President Mike Pence, announced negative coronavirus tests.