Trump holds first in-person event since testing positive for COVID-19

For the first time since testing positive for COVID-19, President Trump held an in-person event. The president spoke to supporters from a White House balcony over the South Lawn. Chip Reid has more.

 

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Less than a week after returning to the White House following a three-day coronavirus hospitalization, President Donald Trump held his first in-person event at the White House.

On Saturday, Trump, who did not wear a face mask, hosted an event on the South Lawn, which was billed as a "peaceful protest for law & order," while addressing a crowd from the White House balcony. "First of all, I'm feeling great," the president said to the 2,000 visitors, who were not socially distanced from one another. The attendees are part of a group called "Blexit," which is a campaign to convince minorities to leave the Democratic Party, according to the Washington Post. Next, Trump is scheduled to attend three rallies: a Sanford, Florida, event on Monday, a Johnstown, Pennsylvania, event on Tuesday, and a Des Moines, Iowa, event on Wednesday. Ahead of Saturday's event, White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah told reporters they were "making sure we’re taking precautions" and that all in attendance would be screened for COVID-19. "The president’s at a great distance, he’s going to be up on a balcony and very briefly address the supporters there" she added. "He’s eager to get back out and be talking to the American people.” Farah also shared that Trump hopes to begin traveling again. "Hopefully once he’s cleared by the doctor, he’ll be back on the road soon," she said, declining to answer questions about if the White House would confirm the president had tested negative for the virus.

The event took place hours after Trump opened up about his hospitalization and coronavirus symptoms during his first on-camera interview. Appearing on Fox News' Tucker Carlson Tonight Friday, Trump said that he was feeling "really good" and had been off medication for eight hours. According to the president, his symptoms included a sore throat and a lack of energy. Trump also claimed that he “didn’t have a problem with breathing,” although doctors previously revealed that the president had been given supplemental oxygen following his diagnosis. Trump went on to say that his treatment has now concluded and that he will be tested again for COVID-19 on Saturday, although he declined to go into specifics about his most recent results. "I have been retested and I know I'm at either the bottom of the scale or free," Trump said. 

 

The appearance marked his latest attempt to project strength and reframe the discussion around his much-scrutinized handling of the COVID-19 pandemic — which included months of refusing to wear masks as well as dismissing the severity of the highly contagious virus. RELATED: Second Presidential Debate Canceled After Trump Refuses to Agree to Virtual Debate

  Trump also repeatedly insisted that he will be well enough to have an in-person debate against Joe Biden next week, although the second debate has since been canceled. In a statement from Trump’s campaign released Thursday evening, campaign manager Bill Stepien — one of several senior aides who has been infected in the recent White House outbreak — claimed there was "no medical reason” why the second debate should be postponed or held virtually, which Trump has vehemently opposed. "It is now apparent there will be no debate on October 15, and the CPD will turn its attention to preparations for the final presidential debate scheduled for October 22," the Commission on Presidential Debates said in a statement Friday.