President Trump Catches COVID-19
Writer: Akshitha Sahu
Editor: Tawseef Rahman
It’s become clear that 2020 has not been what we have expected. We have faced many losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a mere 580 cases globally on January 22nd, the number rose to well over 40 million cases by the 29th of October (Worldmeter). However, one of the biggest shocks was the moment when we heard that President Trump caught COVID-19.
In the early morning of October 2nd, President Trump tweeted that he and the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19 and immediately quarantined themselves (Baker, Haberman). The question that pestered everyone was how the President may have come in contact with the virus in the first place. The New York Times explained in a newsletter that the virus may have been transmitted through Hope Hicks, a close adviser of President Trump. She travelled with the President a few days before he reported his condition (Baker, Haberman).
In the early morning of October 2nd, President Trump tweeted that he and the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19 and immediately quarantined themselves (Baker, Haberman). The question that pestered everyone was how the President may have come in contact with the virus in the first place. The New York Times explained in a newsletter that the virus may have been transmitted through Hope Hicks, a close adviser of President Trump. She travelled with the President a few days before he reported his condition (Baker, Haberman).
As an older adult at the age of 74, President Trump is at a higher risk of having complications from the virus (CDC). Starting with symptoms of fever, coughs, and nasal congestion, statements from people close to the President determined that he had to be hospitalized for several days. The New York Times reported that President Trump was treated with an “antibody cocktail” developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Trump’s Physician Says the President’s Oxygen Levels Dropped and He Took Steroid Treatment).
Leaders from Russia, Britain, and India have sent their condolences and well wishes for President Trump. Along with this, Nicholas Kristof, an opinion columnist for the New York Times, has reminded us to be civil with this situation. He expresses his concerns that one’s personal policies should be kept separate from good intentions for President Trump and the First Lady (Kristof).
Leaders from Russia, Britain, and India have sent their condolences and well wishes for President Trump. Along with this, Nicholas Kristof, an opinion columnist for the New York Times, has reminded us to be civil with this situation. He expresses his concerns that one’s personal policies should be kept separate from good intentions for President Trump and the First Lady (Kristof).
However, this didn’t stop many of us from wondering what the future of this presidency would hold. DealBook mentions that Google searches for the “25th Amendment” spiked after the world found out about the situation. This Amendment, from the U.S.Constitution, outlines measures taken after a president passes away (Sorkin). The initial chaos made everyone question how his condition would influence the election, which was about 30 days away at that point, says the New York Times (Wolfe).
The uncertainty that lingered in the air at the time was astonishing. The New York Times emphasized that health complications in the history of past presidents have sometimes impacted the market, but in President Trump’s case the effects have been more subtle than what may have been expected (Phillips, Nelson). Investors, however, face more uncertainty as they take risks with political means (Phillips, Nelson).
As the initial fire and confusion died down, it became clear that the First Family would indeed recover from the virus. With a few months left in this turbulent year, we still face many unknowns. COVID-19 is a deadly virus that can find its way into our lives in the most unexpected ways. Even with all of the precaution that the president of the United States is surrounded by, the virus didn’t discriminate. If there’s anything that this pandemic is telling us, it's that we need to acknowledge our vulnerability and do our best to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
The uncertainty that lingered in the air at the time was astonishing. The New York Times emphasized that health complications in the history of past presidents have sometimes impacted the market, but in President Trump’s case the effects have been more subtle than what may have been expected (Phillips, Nelson). Investors, however, face more uncertainty as they take risks with political means (Phillips, Nelson).
As the initial fire and confusion died down, it became clear that the First Family would indeed recover from the virus. With a few months left in this turbulent year, we still face many unknowns. COVID-19 is a deadly virus that can find its way into our lives in the most unexpected ways. Even with all of the precaution that the president of the United States is surrounded by, the virus didn’t discriminate. If there’s anything that this pandemic is telling us, it's that we need to acknowledge our vulnerability and do our best to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
Sources:
"Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)." Centers for Disease Control, US Dept. of Health and Human Services, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/older-adults.html. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.
Martin, Jonathan, and Maggie Haberman. "Trump's Positive Coronavirus Test Upends Campaign in Final Stretch." The New York Times, 2 Oct. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-campaign.html?action=click&auth=-google1tap&campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20201002&instance_id=22732&module=Spotlight&nl=the-morning&pgtype=Homepage®i_id=129776370§ion_index=1§ion_name=big_story&segment_id=39652&te=1&user_id=e553fad736a993f074ab295c5877712f. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.
Phillips, Matt, and Eshe Nelson. "Trump's Coronavirus Is Another Jolt of Uncertainty for Investors." The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/business/trump-covid-stock-market.html?auth=login-google&campaign_id=154&emc=edit_cb_20201002&instance_id=22770&nl=coronavirus-briefing®i_id=129776370&segment_id=39732&te=1&user_id=e553fad736a993f074ab295c5877712f. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.
Sorkin, Andrew Ross. "Trump Tests Positive. What Comes Next ..." The New York Times, 2 Oct. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/business/dealbook/trump-coronavirus-positive.html?searchResultPosition=1. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.
"Trump's Physician Says the President's Oxygen Levels Dropped and He Took Steroid Treatment." The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/02/world/covid-19-coronavirus#the-president-has-a-fever-congestion-and-a-cough-people-close-to-him-say-and-he-will-be-hospitalized-for-several-days. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.
Wolfe, Jonathan. "Coronavirus Briefing." The New York Times, 2 Oct. 2020, messaging-custom-newsletters.nytimes.com/template/oakv2?campaign_id=154&emc=edit_cb_20201002&instance_id=22770&nl=coronavirus-briefing&productCode=CB®i_id=129776370&segment_id=39732&te=1&uri=nyt%3A%2F%2Fnewsletter%2F58425041-0477-5674-b88e-40090fc575a6&user_id=e553fad736a993f074ab295c5877712f. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.
Martin, Jonathan, and Maggie Haberman. "Trump's Positive Coronavirus Test Upends Campaign in Final Stretch." The New York Times, 2 Oct. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-campaign.html?action=click&auth=-google1tap&campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20201002&instance_id=22732&module=Spotlight&nl=the-morning&pgtype=Homepage®i_id=129776370§ion_index=1§ion_name=big_story&segment_id=39652&te=1&user_id=e553fad736a993f074ab295c5877712f. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.
Phillips, Matt, and Eshe Nelson. "Trump's Coronavirus Is Another Jolt of Uncertainty for Investors." The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/business/trump-covid-stock-market.html?auth=login-google&campaign_id=154&emc=edit_cb_20201002&instance_id=22770&nl=coronavirus-briefing®i_id=129776370&segment_id=39732&te=1&user_id=e553fad736a993f074ab295c5877712f. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.
Sorkin, Andrew Ross. "Trump Tests Positive. What Comes Next ..." The New York Times, 2 Oct. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/business/dealbook/trump-coronavirus-positive.html?searchResultPosition=1. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.
"Trump's Physician Says the President's Oxygen Levels Dropped and He Took Steroid Treatment." The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/02/world/covid-19-coronavirus#the-president-has-a-fever-congestion-and-a-cough-people-close-to-him-say-and-he-will-be-hospitalized-for-several-days. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.
Wolfe, Jonathan. "Coronavirus Briefing." The New York Times, 2 Oct. 2020, messaging-custom-newsletters.nytimes.com/template/oakv2?campaign_id=154&emc=edit_cb_20201002&instance_id=22770&nl=coronavirus-briefing&productCode=CB®i_id=129776370&segment_id=39732&te=1&uri=nyt%3A%2F%2Fnewsletter%2F58425041-0477-5674-b88e-40090fc575a6&user_id=e553fad736a993f074ab295c5877712f. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.