Donald Trump says he CAN’T REMEMBER when his last negative test was before COVID diagnosis

Donald Trump said Thursday he can’t remember when he last tested negative for the coronavirus before he was diagnosed with it last week.

Pressed repeatedly by NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, Trump couldn’t say if he was tested for the disease on the day of the first presidential debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden. 

The Commission on Presidential Debates required a negative test before the event.

‘Possibly I did, possibly I didn’t,’ he said when she pressed him on the issue during a town hall meeting in Miami.  

The claim was at the start of the town hall which went head-to-head with Joe Biden’s parallel appearance on ABC, on the night when the two should have been debating in Miami.

It set a contentious tone for the evening, with Guthrie repeating challenging Trump on his record and his claims, telling him at one point of a retweet suggesting Osama bin Laden’s body double was killed by SEAL Team 6, not the terror leader: ‘You’re not somebody’s crazy uncle who can just retweet whatever.’

On ABC Biden faced was questioned by George Stephanopoulos in Philadelphia, to an audience of undecided voters and set a far more sedate tone.

That tone was not evident on NBC, as Guthrie pressed Trump on his health.

‘Did you test the day of the debate?,’ Guthrie asked him. 

‘I don’t know. I don’t even remember,’ Trump responded.  

The president said he doesn’t get tested for COVID every day. ‘No but I take a lot of tests,’ he said.

The White House has repeatedly refused to answer when the president last tested negative before he tested positive.

Before his September 29 debate with Biden, Trump attended two events at the White House – a Rose Garden ceremony for his Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and an East Room event for Gold Star families – where several attendees later tested positive for COVID. 

Donald Trump said Thursday he can’t remember when he last tested negative for the coronavirus before he was diagnosed with it last week 

Trump said he felt ‘fantastically’ at the debate and there ‘was no problem.’ ‘I was in great shape for the debate,’ he repeated. Pictured: Trump touches his nose part during a live one-hour NBC News town hall forum with a group of Florida voters in Miami

Trump said he felt ‘fantastically’ at the debate and there ‘was no problem.’ ‘I was in great shape for the debate,’ he repeated. Pictured: Trump touches his nose part during a live one-hour NBC News town hall forum with a group of Florida voters in Miami

Trump also claimed to NBC host Savannah Guthrie that 85 percent of people who wear masks get the virus' - although that is not an accurate statistic

Trump also claimed to NBC host Savannah Guthrie that 85 percent of people who wear masks get the virus' - although that is not an accurate statistic

Pressed repeatedly by NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, Trump couldn’t say if he was tested for the disease on the day of the first presidential debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden. The Commission on Presidential Debates required a negative test before the event. ‘Possibly I did, possibly I didn’t,’ he said when she pressed him on the issue during a town hall meeting in Miami 

It set a contentious tone for the evening, with Guthrie repeating challenging Trump on his record and his claims, telling him at one point of a retweet suggesting Osama bin Laden’s body double was killed by SEAL Team 6, not the terror leader: ‘You’re not somebody’s crazy uncle who can just retweet whatever'

It set a contentious tone for the evening, with Guthrie repeating challenging Trump on his record and his claims, telling him at one point of a retweet suggesting Osama bin Laden’s body double was killed by SEAL Team 6, not the terror leader: ‘You’re not somebody’s crazy uncle who can just retweet whatever’ 

On ABC Biden faced was questioned by George Stephanopoulos in Philadelphia, to an audience of undecided voters and set a far more sedate tone

On ABC Biden faced was questioned by George Stephanopoulos in Philadelphia, to an audience of undecided voters and set a far more sedate tone 

‘I was in great shape for the debate. And it was only after the debate, like a period of time, after the debate,’ Trump said, that he started feeling poorly. 

Trump said he felt ‘fantastically’ at the debate and there ‘was no problem.’ ‘I was in great shape for the debate,’ he repeated.

At one point during a commercial break, Trump took out a tissue and dabbed at his nose. 

On the back of his right hand there were large band aids, suggesting he is receiving intravenous fluids despite claiming to be ‘medication free’ after his battle with coronavirus. 

He was previously seen with similar band aids on Saturday. They were placed in a spot that is commonly used to deliver IV fluids or medications. Much less commonly, it could be used as a site to draw blood for tests, if veins in the arm were difficult to access, a medical expert previously told DailyMail.com.

Trump also defended his decision not to wear a face mask.

‘People with masks are catching it all the time,’ he argued. He pointed to the Democratic Governor of Virginia Ralph Northam and Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina testing positive despite repeatedly wearing masks.

‘Just the other day they came out with a statement that 85% of the people that wear masks catch it,’ he said.

Trump likely got the number from an article on the right-wing news site The Blaze, which said of those surveyed who had contracted COVID-19 85 percent ‘always’ or ‘often’ wore face coverings.

Mediaite reported that the number came from a CDC paper that found that 71 percent of COVID-positive study participants reported always wearing masks, while another 14 percent said they often wore masks, in the two weeks leading up to their coronavirus diagnosis.

The paper found that a slightly bigger group, 74 percent, said they always wore masks and didn’t contract COVID-19.

When asked by Isabella Pena, the daughter of two frontline health workers, if his opinion had changed on wearing a mask after his Covid-19 diagnosis, Trump said: No, because I was okay with the masks. I was good with it.’

‘But I’ve heard many different stories on masks,’ Trump said, one of many times he’s talked about masks as a ‘both sides’ issue.

Trump also defended his decision not to wear a face mask. ‘People with masks are catching it all the time,’ he argued. He pointed to the Democratic Governor of Virginia Ralph Northam and Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina testing positive despite repeatedly wearing masks

Trump also defended his decision not to wear a face mask. ‘People with masks are catching it all the time,’ he argued. He pointed to the Democratic Governor of Virginia Ralph Northam and Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina testing positive despite repeatedly wearing masks

Trump also defended his decision to quickly get back to work and on the campaign trail after having COVID. ‘As President, I have to be out there. I can't be in a basement. I can't be locked in a very beautiful room someplace in the White House,’ he said. Pictured: Trump at a campaign rally in Greenville, North Carolina hours before his town hall on Thursday

Trump also defended his decision to quickly get back to work and on the campaign trail after having COVID. ‘As President, I have to be out there. I can’t be in a basement. I can’t be locked in a very beautiful room someplace in the White House,’ he said. Pictured: Trump at a campaign rally in Greenville, North Carolina hours before his town hall on Thursday 

He specifically mentioned the event with Gold Star families (pictured on September 27) where, afterward, several high ranking members of the military went into quarantine after a few of them tested positive. ‘I want to see the Gold Star families,’ Trump said. ‘I want to see everybody.

He specifically mentioned the event with Gold Star families (pictured on September 27) where, afterward, several high ranking members of the military went into quarantine after a few of them tested positive. ‘I want to see the Gold Star families,’ Trump said. ‘I want to see everybody.

Trump commented after once again boarding Air Force One and appearing at rallies without a mask, and even coming back to talk to reporters without a mask on a flight Wednesday. Then he told a story he also mentioned in the first presidential debate.

‘People – they bring meals. I had an instance recently where a very wonderful person is bringing me a meal. And he’s playing with his mask and he’s touching his mask all over the place. And then he’s bringing a plate in. And I’m saying I don’t know if that’s so good,’ Trump said.

This time, he revealed he turned down the food.

‘I didn’t eat it, okay? I decided not to eat it. This was a month ago.’

Pressed by Guthrie, Trump defended himself and pointed to disagreement in the early days of the pandemic. Now his team says it could save thousands of lives if more people wore masks.

‘Look, you have, on the masks, a story where they want, a story where they don’t want. I am all for it,’ Trump said.

Guthrie brought up a Washington University study that masks could have a major impact reducing deaths. 

Trump countered by bringing up his controversial advisor Dr. Scott Atlas, who is not an infectious disease expert and has promoted controversial ideas on herd immunity.

‘And then you have other people that disagree. Scott Atkins [Atlas]. If you look at Scott, Dr. Scott. He’s from great guy – Stanford. One of the great experts of the world,’ Trump said. He was referring to Atlas.

Trump also defended his decision to quickly get back to work and on the campaign trail after having COVID.

‘As President, I have to be out there. I can’t be in a basement. I can’t be locked in a very beautiful room someplace in the White House,’ he said.

He specifically mentioned the event with Gold Star families where, afterward, several high ranking members of the military went into quarantine after a few of them tested positive.

‘I want to see the Gold Star families,’ Trump said. ‘I want to see everybody.’

Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and moderator George Stephanopoulos arrive for an ABC News town hall event at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia

Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and moderator George Stephanopoulos arrive for an ABC News town hall event at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia

ABC quickly slated a Joe Biden town hall in the same time slot as when the virtual debate would’ve been held

ABC quickly slated a Joe Biden town hall in the same time slot as when the virtual debate would’ve been held

But he said he wasn’t blaming the families – who lost a loved one in service to the country – for infecting him.

‘No I don’t know where it came from,’ he said. ‘You don’t know where it came from; the doctors don’t know where it came from.’

The commission offered the hold the debate in a virtual capacity, but the motion was refused by Trump who called the suggestion a ‘waste’ of his time.

ABC quickly slated a Joe Biden town hall in the same time slot as when the virtual debate would’ve been held.

Following lengthy negotiations, NBC, which made Trump a household name with its series The Apprentice, booked him for a town hall airing at exactly the same time – a scheduling decision that has drawn wide criticism.

In the Thursday letter, the coalition of entertainers and executives said their critique is not the result of a ‘partisan issue. This is about the political health of our democracy.’

‘We believe this kind of indifference to the norms and rules of our democracy are what have brought our country to this perilous state,’ the letter said.

‘We are simply asking that NBC air the President’s town hall either before or after Vice President Biden’s so that American voters can have the opportunity to watch both.

‘We understand the necessities of business, especially in this difficult time. But we believe there are larger issues of civic responsibility at stake here,’ the letter continued.

Among those leading the charge was Dan Fogelman, the mind behind NBC’s smash-hit series This Is Us, with cast members Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia also named among the signees.

A number of other prominent current and former NBCUniversal stars and producers are also named among the 105 co-signers of the letter, including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Executive Producer Neal Baer.

Trump himself spoke about Thursday night's town hall during a rally in Greenville, North Carolina this afternoon, calling the event a 'set up'. 'So you know I’m being set up tonight, right?,' Trump told the gathered crowd. 'So, I’m doing this town hall with Concast — C-O-N, right? Con, because it’s a con job. … So, I’m doing it, and it’s NBC. The worst'

Trump himself spoke about Thursday night’s town hall during a rally in Greenville, North Carolina this afternoon, calling the event a ‘set up’. ‘So you know I’m being set up tonight, right?,’ Trump told the gathered crowd. ‘So, I’m doing this town hall with Concast — C-O-N, right? Con, because it’s a con job. … So, I’m doing it, and it’s NBC. The worst’

President Donald J. Trump's supporters gather next to Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden's supporters as they attend a demonstration in front of the Perez Art Museum where US President Donald J. Trump will attend a NBC News Town Hall in Miami

President Donald J. Trump’s supporters gather next to Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden’s supporters as they attend a demonstration in front of the Perez Art Museum where US President Donald J. Trump will attend a NBC News Town Hall in Miami

Trump called NBC’s town hall with Biden earlier this month 'a joke' and, without offering evidence, accused the network of not treating both candidates fairly

Trump called NBC’s town hall with Biden earlier this month ‘a joke’ and, without offering evidence, accused the network of not treating both candidates fairly

Other big names include producer Ryan Murphy, who created The New Normal, in addition to actor-producer Ben Stiller, and Family Guy creator Seth Macfarlane, who recently signed a $200m production deal with NBCU.

Trump himself spoke about Thursday night’s town hall during a rally in Greenville, North Carolina this afternoon, calling the event a ‘set up’.

‘So you know I’m being set up tonight, right?,’ Trump told the gathered crowd. ‘So, I’m doing this town hall with Concast — C-O-N, right? Con, because it’s a con job. … So, I’m doing it, and it’s NBC. The worst.’

He also had some sarcastic remarks for the event’s moderator, Savannah Guthrie, who he said is ‘always lovely’ in an insincere tone.

Trump called NBC’s town hall with Biden earlier this month ‘a joke’ and, without offering evidence, accused the network of not treating both candidates fairly.

But he said he was eager to participate in the event, describing it as a ‘free; opportunity for him to reach more voters.

‘So, they asked me if I’d do it and I figured, what the hell, we get a free hour on television,’ Trump said. ‘So, I’ll see you later on NBC. I look forward to it.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk