Trump Covid update – President briefly leaves hospital to surprise fans after video message saying he’s ‘learned a lot’
DONALD Trump thrilled supporters camped outside the Walter Reed Medical Center by paying them a
DONALD Trump thrilled supporters camped outside the Walter Reed Medical Center by paying them a “surprise visit” as he continues to battle Covid-19.
A waving president was driven past legions of his loyal fans in a bulletproof black SUV as they waved flags and banners and screamed “we love you” on Sunday evening.
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The Secret Service agents riding with Trump appeared to be wearing medical-grade masks, face shields and gowns over their clothes.
“We’re getting great reports from the doctors. This is an incredible hospital. The work they do is just absolutely amazing and I want to thank them all,” Trump said before briefly leaving the hospital in the 4×4.
He continued: “I also think we’re going to pay a little surprise to some of the great patriots we have out on the street.
“They’ve been out here a long time and they’ve got Trump flags and they love our country.”
“So I’m not telling anybody but you but we’re about to make a little surprise visit.
“So perhaps I’ll get there before you get to see me, but when I look at the enthusiasm, and we have enthusiasm like probably nobody’s ever had.”
He added: “It’s been a very interesting journey. I learned a lot about Covid. I learned it by really going to school.
“This is the real school, this isn’t the ‘let’s read the book school’. And I get it.
“I understand it. And it’s a very interesting thing, and I’m going to be letting you know about it.”
However, the president’s drive-by was slammed by one medic for “risking lives for political theater”.
Dr James Phillips called the hospital motorcade “insanity,” accusing the president of risking the lives of Secret Service members and warning that everyone involved “must quarantine.”
Sunday’s video message from the president came hours after his doctor revealed he may be able to leave the hospital sometime today.
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Speaking outside Walter Reed on Sunday, doctors said, if Trump continues to improve, they “plan for discharge as early as tomorrow.”
Doctor Brian Garibaldi said: “Today, he feels well. He’s up and around.
“And if he continues to look and feel as well as he does today, our hope is that we can plan for a discharge as early as tomorrow to the White House where he can continue his treatment course.”
Dr Sean Conley also confirmed Trump experienced two drops in oxygen saturation levels and a high fever amid confusion about reports of the president’s health.
He was also on supplemental oxygen for roughly one hour, the doctor added.
The White House medic spoke to reporters to clear up conflicting reports from Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
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Conley said that Meadows’ statement to reporters on Saturday was “misconstrued,” adding that “the chief and I work side-by-side.”
Minutes after Trump’s medical team addressed the nation on Saturday, Meadows spoke off-the-record to a pool of reporters asking to be quoted as an “anonymous source”.
He painted a very different picture to journalists, saying Trump’s vital signs had been “very concerning” and that the next 48 hours would be “critical” in his care.
“We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery,” Meadows added.
However, during Sunday’s press briefing, Conley claimed Meadows was referencing the president’s high fever and oxygen drop 24 hours earlier.
Some medics have now queried Trump’s medical team’s rosy picture of his health.
They were particularly surprised at claims he could be discharged and return to the White House today.
“People can be doing OK, but it can get rocky very quickly,” said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.
Other experts told the Washington Post that Trump’s medical team has withheld key information about his condition adding he was on a “kitchen sink” regimen of antibodies, the anti-viral remdesivir, and steroids.
“For someone sick enough to have required remdesivir and dexamethasone, I can’t think of a situation in which a patient would be OK to leave on day three, even with the White House’s medical capacity,” said Robert Wachter, chairman of the University of California at San Francisco’s department of medicine.
Trump had earlier tweeted to thank his supporters who have been waving flags and holding signs outside of the hospital.
“I really appreciate all of the fans and supporters outside of the hospital. The fact is, they really love our Country and are seeing how we are MAKING IT GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!,” he tweeted.
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Trump also shared a video message from hospital on Saturday evening, warning the “next few days will be the real test” in his fight against coronavirus.
He said: “I came here, wasn’t feeling so well. I’m feeling much better now.”
“I’m starting to feel good. You don’t know over the period of a few days – I guess that’s the real test.”
“We’ll be seeing what happens over the next couple of days.”
He added that he’ll “‘be back soon” and will “finish the campaign.”
The president did not sound out of breath when he was speaking and he was upbeat as he addressed the nation while sitting at a table in the hospital.
“We’re gonna beat this coronavirus – or whatever you want to call it – and we’re going to beat it soundly,” Trump vowed.
On experimental treatments, Trump said there are some that “look like they’re miracles coming down from God.”
Trump was flown to Walter Reed hospital on Friday, just hours after he first revealed he tested positive for Covid-19.
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Jason Miller, a Trump campaign aide, said on Sunday that he had spoken to the president and that he said “he’s going to defeat this virus… and our campaign is going to defeat the virus.”
“Once he gets out of the hospital, he’s ready to get back to the campaign trail,” Miller told NBC. “He sounded pretty energetic.”
“But he said something else that I thought that was important too,” Miller said, “and that was to be careful, and that was to remind folks to wash their hands, use hand sanitizer, make sure that if you can’t socially distance, distance to wear a mask.
“And I thought that was a pretty important message to send and a reminder to the rest of the country.”
In extraordinary scenes at the White House on Friday, Trump, 74, was rushed via helicopter to the medical center near Washington DC after he was struck down with coronavirus symptoms – putting the US election in jeopardy with just weeks to go.
Table of Contents
‘INSANITY’
Covid doc slams Trump for ‘risking lives for political theater’ with drive-by
‘WANTED NO ONE NEAR ME’
‘Jealous’ dad killed daughter’s lover so HE could have sex with her
‘POISONED’ AT HOME
Five ‘kids aged 3 to 12’ found dead when ‘parents returned from work’
CRUSHED TO DEATH
Supermarket worker, 21, killed in shelf collapse as shoppers flee
Hours after he was transported to the hospital via Marine One, Trump tweeted: “Going well, I think! Thank you to all. LOVE!!!”
After it was reported Trump was “struggling to breathe,” Conley said Trump was given a dose of Remdesivir.
The drug, which is used for the treatment of Ebola, SARS, and hepatitis C, is an antiviral medication that is designed to interfere with the virus’s ability to copy its genetic material.
Remdesivir was approved for emergency use in May amid the outbreak.