Trump says ‘don’t be afraid’ of Covid after leaving hospital and making triumphant White House return
DONALD Trump told the world “don’t be afraid” of coronavirus after his triumphant return to the White House on Monday – following his 72-hour hospital stay stricken with symptoms.
The president, 74, said he feels “better than 20 years ago” after being airlifted out of Walter Reed hospital – where he had been given unprecedented medical treatment after being diagnosed with Covid-19 early on Friday morning.
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He was overheard saying “I feel good” as he arrived back at the White House – immediately removing his mask and standing for photographers at the South Portico terrace in front of a backdrop of American flags for the sunset occasion.
Shortly after his arrival to the White House, the administration released a video on Twitter, praising the work of doctors and staff at Walter Reed.
In the video, Trump repeatedly advised the American people to not let Covid-19 “dominate.”
“Don’t let it dominate you,” he said. “Don’t be afraid of it.”
“You’re going to beat it,” the president added.
Trump continued to say the United States is the greatest country in the world and advised citizens to not let the virus “take over” their lives.
“Get out there, be careful,” he said towards the end of the video. “We have the best medicines in the world, and it’ll all happen very shortly. And they’re all getting approved and the vaccines are coming momentarily.”
On Monday afternoon, Trump tweeted that he will be “back on the campaign trial soon.”
“Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon!!! The Fake News only shows the Fake Polls,” Trump tweeted shortly before leaving Walter Reed.
Since leaving the hospital, he is expected to continue treatment at the White House.
According to NBC, Trump will work out of the residence in order to continue to quarantine.
Several supporters of the president gathered near the hospital prior to his departure.
After exiting the hospital, Trump flashed a thumbs up and fist to members of the press before getting into a vehicle that drove him to Marine One.
Upon arrival to the White House, the president climbed the South Portico steps, removed his face mask, saluted Marine One and entered the White House without appearing to put his mask back on.
During a town hall with NBC’s Lester Holt, Democratic candidate Joe Biden reacted to the president’s arrival at the White House, saying he is glad Trump is “coming along pretty well.”
Biden added that he hopes Trump will “communicate the right message to the American people.”
“Wear a mask,” Biden said, encouraging people to social distance.
“It should be seen as a patriotic duty,” the candidate later added about wearing a mask.
According to Trump’s top aides and his medical team, the president is reportedly responding well to the coronavirus treatment.
During a press briefing on Monday, White House Phsycian Dr. Sean Conley warned that the president is “not out of the woods yet” regardless of meeting or exceeding all standard hospital discharged criteria.
“I will be leaving the great today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good!” Trump wrote Monday afternoon. “Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life.
“We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
During Monday’s press briefing, Physician revealed that Trump “met or exceeded” all standard hospital discharge criteria – but said the president is “not out of the woods yet.”
“We send patients homes with medications all the time,” Conley said, as it emerged that Trump had no fever in 72 hours.
“He probably met his discharge requirements yesterday.”
Trump will receive a fourth dose of the antiviral drug on Monday before he leaves the hospital, said Dr Brian Garibaldi – another member of his medical team – with a fifth dosage being administered on Tuesday.
This Gilead Sciences’ – used for the treatment of , SARS, and hepatitis C – was approved for emergency use in the back in May.
Conley declined to say when the president’s last negative Covid test was, telling reporters: “I don’t want to go backwards.”
He also denied sharing results of medical scans of Trump’s lungs, saying he was not at liberty to discuss the information due to doctor-patient confidentiality.
Earlier on Monday, Trump’s Chief of Staff said he “continued to improve overnight and is ready to get back to a normal working schedule,” reported .
Before the president confirmed that he would be heading home, reports indicated that he was from Walter Reed after being airlifted there last Friday.
Yesterday, he stunned his supporters by briefly leaving the hospital in – a move he was forced to defend on Twitter.
Experts slammed his decision to leave the medical facility – but Trump said he would have been criticized if he didn’t wave to his supporters from the black bulletproof SUV on Sunday.
“[T]he Media is upset because I got into a secure vehicle to say thank you to the many fans and supporters who were standing outside of the hospital for many hours, and even days, to pay their respect to their President,” he .
“If I didn’t do it, [the] Media would say RUDE!!!”
Likewise, Conley defended the move, telling reporters on Monday that “the president has been surrounded by medical and security staff for days wearing full PPE.”
“Yesterday the US Secret Service agents were in that same level of PPE,” he said.
Ahead of his release today, Dr Brian Garibaldi noted on Sunday that the president “has been up and around” and said their “plan today is to have him eat and drink, be up out of bed.”
The president and First Lady tested positive for the coronavirus last week – with just four weeks to go until the .
On Sunday, Trump legions of his loyal fans in a black car as they waved flags and banners and screamed, “We love you.”
The Secret Service agents riding with him appeared to be wearing medical-grade masks, face shields, and gowns over their clothes.
However, the president’s drive-by was slammed by one medic for “risking lives for political theater.”
Dr James Phillips accusing the president of risking the lives of Secret Service members and warning that everyone involved “must quarantine.”
On Friday, was rushed via helicopter to the medical center near after he was struck down with symptoms – putting the in jeopardy with just weeks to go.
The president and Melania .
Three days later, Trump has been while .”
On Sunday, confirmed Trump experienced two drops in oxygen saturation levels, a high fever, and was on supplemental oxygen for roughly one hour Saturday.
But he refuted Meadows’ statements the previous day that Trump’s condition was “critical,” saying the comments were “misconstrued.”
Meanwhile, the virus has been rapidly spreading in GOP circles with White House Press Secretary on Monday.
“No reporters, producers, or members of the press are listed as close contacts by the Medical Unit,” McEnany – who had ” – said.
The press secretary added she “definitely had no knowledge” that tested positive last week before McEnany addressed the press briefing room on Thursday.
On Sunday – before revealing her diagnosis from Monday – McEnany spoke to reporters without a mask on.
Vice President and Trump’s Democratic challenger have so far tested negative for the virus.
