BREAKING NEWS: Hope Hicks has tested positive for coronavirus after traveling with Trump on Air Force One
- Hicks, who serves as counselor to Trump and traveled with him to a Wednesday rally, tested positive Thursday, according to an administration official
- She is the closest aide to Trump to test positive so far
- Hicks traveled with the president multiple times this week, including on Marine One for the rally and aboard Air Force One Tuesday for the presidential debate
Hope Hicks has tested positive for coronavirus after traveling with Donald Trump on Air Force One to and from Tuesday’s debate, sources have said.
Hicks, who serves as counselor to the president and also traveled with him to a Wednesday rally, tested positive Thursday, according to an administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private health information.
She is the closest aide to Trump to test positive so far. She previously served as White House communications director and re-joined the administration this year ahead of the election. There is no indication the president has the virus.
Hicks traveled with the president multiple times this week, including on Marine One, the presidential helicopter, for the Minnesota rally Wednesday, and aboard Air Force One to Tuesday night’s first presidential debate in Cleveland.
She was spotted getting off Air Force One in Cleveland without her mask.
Hope Hicks (far right) is pictured walking to Marine One alongside Jared Kushner, center, to depart from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington DC on Wednesday
She was spotted getting off Air Force One in Cleveland without her mask
Hicks becomes the latest in Trump’s circle to contract the virus after National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien and White House coronavirus task force spokeswoman Katie Miller.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said: ‘The president takes the health and safety of himself and everyone who works in support of him and the American people very seriously.
‘White House Operations collaborates with the physician to the President and the White House Military Office to ensure all plans and procedures incorporate current CDC guidance and best practices for limiting Covid-19 exposure to the greatest extent possible, both on complex and when the president is traveling.’
Hicks was seen Tuesday in a car without her mask with White House senior adviser Stephen Miller and campaign adviser Jason Miller.
She is said to have worn a mask when on Marine One with Trump.
Hope Hicks, left, is seated across President Donald Trump inside Marine One as it lands on the South Lawn at the White House, Monday, September 14
Hicks is one of Trump’s closest aides and reportedly has symptoms of the virus, although there is no indication Trump has been infected. She is pictured on September 21