Donald Trump says he and the nation’s top experts have been ‘very strongly tested’ for the coronavirus – but task force leader Mike Pence has not
- Trump said he is ‘careful’ around Pence but the pair are not taking steps to isolate from each other
- He said he has been ‘very strongly tested’
- Pence said he has not been tested but is having his temperature checked daily
- Trump announced Saturday his test came out negative
- A pair of guests at Mar-a-Lago tested positive
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
President Donald Trump says he was ‘strongly’ tested for the coronavirus but is not taking precautions to separate himself from his Number Two Mike Pence.
‘We haven’t thought of it,’ Trump said when asked by DailyMail.com about separating himself from Pence, who is second in the line of succession, in light of the outbreak. Trump announced Saturday that he tested negative for the coronavirus, after coming in contact with a Brazilian official at Mar-a-Lago who did test positive for the disease.
‘I will say this. We’re very careful. We’re very careful with being together. Even the people behind me are,’ Trump said. ‘They’ve been very strongly tested. I’ve been very strongly tested.’
President Donald Trump said he is ‘very careful’ around Vice President Mike Pence, but has not taken steps to keep apart from him as a precaution to protect the line of succession. Pence said he has not been tested for the virus. The White House says Trump’s test came out negative
He was referencing a bank of top U.S. health officials who make up Pence’s coronavirus task force.
Trump spoke at the White House as he announced tough new recommendations for Americans to stay home when possible and avoid groups of more than 10 people, as the coronavirus outbreak proliferates.
‘I’ve not been tested yet. But we’re checking our temperature regularly every day and we’ll continue to follow guidance,’ Pence said
Trump indicated that government experts behind him had been tested for the virus
President Donald Trump listens to Vice President Mike Pence, left, as Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks during a press briefing with the coronavirus task force, in the Brady press briefing room at the White House, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Washington
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has taken steps to separate himself from the Number Two civilian official at the Pentagon amid the outbreak
Trump then invited Pence to the microphone at podium he shared with other officials.
‘I’ve not been tested yet. But we’re checking our temperature regularly every day and we’ll continue to follow guidance,’ Pence said. ‘That’s what my family is doing as well,’ Pence added.
Defense Secretary Mike Esper has taken steps to separate himself from the Number Two civilian official the Pentagon as a measure to protect the chain of command.
The White House announced Saturday that Trump had tested negative.
‘Last night after an in-depth discussion with the President regarding COVID-19 testing, he elected to proceed,” said White House physician Sean Conley in a letter released by the White House. ‘This evening I received confirmation that the test is negative.’
Trump repeated on Monday that he changed his mind after saying he didn’t need to get tested after a White House Rose Garden press conference Friday where he was repeatedly asked about it.