All The Republicans In Trump's Orbit Who Tested Positive For Coronavirus So Far

Many appear to be linked to the president's Supreme Court announcement held in the Rose Garden on Sept. 26.
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A busy week of travel, public events and private meetings led a shocking number of people around President Donald Trump to contract the coronavirus ― including the president himself.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump revealed their positive diagnoses just a few hours after Hope Hicks, a close aide to the president, announced that she had the virus the evening of Oct. 1.

Since then, over a dozen other frequent contacts of the president’s have tested positive. Many were linked to Trump’s packed White House Rose Garden event on Sept. 26, when Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Here are the positive cases we know so far. It can take several days after exposure for a person to test positive for the virus, and some do not show symptoms for up to two weeks.

President Donald Trump

Trump was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland on Oct. 2, hours after revealing he tested positive for the virus. He tweeted an update on his condition the next day: “Going welI, I think! Thank you to all. LOVE!!!”

Trump’s blood oxygen level dipped below 95% ― an important threshold ― at least twice since being diagnosed with COVID-19, White House physician Sean Conley announced Oct. 4. Despite these incidents, Trump’s medical team said the president is doing “very well.”

It remains unclear precisely how the president picked up the virus, but he seldom wore a mask before his diagnosis.

He traveled to several cities before and after the Rose Garden event, participated in several events including three rallies and was reportedly in enclosed rooms with other maskless individuals as he prepared for his debate with Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden. (Biden and his wife have tested negative.)

First Lady Melania Trump

The first lady attended Barrett’s nomination in the Rose Garden, where she was seen sitting near the judge’s family. (Barrett herself had the virus earlier in the year and recovered.)

“Thank you for the love you are sending our way,” she said in a tweet. “I have mild symptoms but overall feeling good. I am looking forward to a speedy recovery.”

White House Adviser Hope Hicks

Hicks traveled with the president several times in the days leading up to her diagnosis, including a Sept. 30 trip aboard Air Force One to Minnesota, where Trump held a campaign rally.

Hicks began exhibiting symptoms before the rally, The New York Times reported, and she was then isolated on the return flight and exited out the back of the plane.

She did not attend the Rose Garden event.

Former White House Adviser Kellyanne Conway

Conway reportedly spent hours cooped up with Trump and other staffers in preparation for the debate, without masks. She also attended Barrett’s nomination event. She revealed her diagnosis late on Oct. 2.

Trump Campaign Manager Bill Stepien

Stepien was diagnosed Oct. 2 and is experiencing “mild flu-like symptoms,” according to Politico.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)

Lee attended the Rose Garden event, where he was seen talking to and hugging other attendees without a mask.

He announced his positive diagnosis Oct. 2. Lee said he began feeling symptoms the morning of Oct. 1, around the time he attended a 90-minute Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, where he could have infected colleagues. He was seen without a mask at least part of the time.

The Rev. John Jenkins

Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame ― where Barrett attended law school ― was seen at her Supreme Court nomination event without a mask. He tested positive on Oct. 2.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)

Tillis attended the Rose Garden event and was seen in a mask during the main announcement, although prominent Republicans were seen indoors with Barrett afterward. He tested positive on Oct. 2.

GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel

McDaniel received her diagnosis Sept. 30 and announced Oct. 2 that she tested positive. She last saw the president in person on Sept. 25, according to The New York Times.

The chairwoman was tested after “a member of her family” tested positive, a spokesman said in a statement, noting that McDaniel “has been at her home in Michigan” since Sept. 26.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)

Johnson announced his diagnosis Oct. 3. He quarantined for two weeks after coming into contact with someone earlier in the month who had the virus.

He only returned to Washington on Sept. 29, when he was “exposed to an individual who has since tested positive,” his office said. The individual was not named.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

Christie, a frequent contact of the president’s, announced Oct. 3 that he “just received word” of his positive diagnosis. He was seen without a mask at Barrett’s nomination ceremony in the Rose Garden.

White House Aide Nicholas Luna

Luna, one of the president’s “body men,” has tested positive, according to multiple reports.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany

McEnany reported testing positive for the virus on Oct. 5. She held a press briefing Oct. 1 and spoke to reporters on Oct. 4, opting not to wear a mask in both situations.

McEnany was in attendance at Barrett’s Rose Garden ceremony.

At least three more of her aides in the White House press office have also tested positive.

Pastor Greg Laurie

Laurie, the senior pastor for Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, reportedly told church officials on Oct. 4 that he tested positive for the virus.

Laurie attended Barrett’s nomination ceremony after participating in the National Prayer March earlier that day with Vice President Mike Pence.

White House Communications Aide Chad Gilmartin

Chad Gilmartin, who is a mid-level staffer on the White House communications team, tested positive for coronavirus, ABC News reported. He is assistant press secretary under McEnany, who reported testing positive for the virus on Oct. 5.

White House Communications Aide Karoline Leavitt

Karoline Leavitt, also an aide on McEnany’s White House communications team, reportedly tested positive for the virus.

White House Communications Aide Jalen Drummond

Jalen Drummond, an assistant press secretary on McEnany’s White House communications team, also reportedly tested positive for the virus. Drummond was at the Sept. 26 Rose Garden event for Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination. He was also at an Oct. 1 press briefing. Just a few days later, McEnany reported testing positive for the virus.

White House Senior Adviser Stephen Miller

Stephen Miller, a top Trump adviser and the driving force behind Trump’s anti-immigration policies, said on Oct. 6 he had tested positive for the virus. Miller attended debate preparations on Sep. 28 with Trump, Christie, Hicks and others, none of whom wore masks at the time.

Hayley Miller and Sarah Ruiz-Grossman contributed reporting.


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