President Trump on Friday shared a pre-recorded video message on Twitter saying he is “doing very well” and thanked Americans for their overwhelming support following his early morning announcement of his COVID-19 diagnosis.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
“I want to thank everybody for the tremendous support,” Trump said in the short 18-second tweet video. “I think I’m doing very well but we’re going to make sure that things work out. The First Lady is doing very well. So thank you very much. I appreciate it. I will never forget it.”
The brief video from Trump was the first remarks he made addressing the nation since disclosing shortly before 1:00 in the morning on Friday that he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus. Since announcing his diagnosis, Trump remained media silent on Twitter for 16 hours.
Trump tweeted the video shortly after he departed the White House to board the presidential helicopter, Marine One heading to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, shortly after 6:15 p.m. ET Friday. The president made the brief walk to the helicopter without any help, waving to the media, and didn’t display any signs of weakness. He didn’t stop to talk to reporters like he normally does.
The president will spend the next few days and “will be working from the presidential offices” at the medical center. The First Lady did not accompany Trump to Walter Reed, instead she will remain at the White House in self-isolation.
White House spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany released a statement that Trump has “mild symptoms,” and was being transferred to Walter Reed “out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts.”
“President Trump remains in good spirits, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day,” said White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. “Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the President will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days. President Trump appreciates the outpouring of support for both he and the First Lady.”
Dr. Sean Conley, the White House Physician issued a memorandum Friday afternoon giving an update on the president’s health condition. Trump was given an experimental polyclonal antibody cocktail consisting of a combination of two monoclonal antibodies. The treatment is meant to provide the body’s immune system with a temporary, but immediate, boost to fight off the coronavirus. Experts considered the cocktail therapy although still unproven to be one of the most promising treatment options so far to combat the illness of the virus.
“As a precautionary measure, he received a single 8-gram dose of Regeneron’s polyclonal antibody cocktail. He completed the infusion without incident,” Conley said in the memorandum Friday afternoon. “In addition to the polyclonal antibodies, the President has been taking zinc, vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin, and a daily aspirin.”
“As of this afternoon the President remains fatigued but in good spirits. He’s being evaluated by a team of experts, and together we’ll be making recommendations to the President and First Lady in regards to next best steps,” Conley added.
The memo also says the First Lady remains well with only a mild cough and headache, and the remainder of the first family are well and tested negative for the virus.
The President’s daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump called her father “a warrior” following his video tweet.
“You are a warrior and will beat this. I love you, dad,” Ivanka Trump tweeted.
45CoronavirusFLOTUSMelania TrumpPresident TrumpWalter Reed Medical CenterWhite HouseWhite House News
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