Trump tests positive for COVID-19: Mike Pence gets negative coronavirus diagnosis

Vice President Mike Pence might’ve made it through the White House’s coronavirus crisis unscathed after revealing he and his wife had tested negative for the virus.

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife have managed to avoid catching coronavirus despite their close proximity to Donald Trump.

Mr Pence’s press secretary Devin O’Malley revealed the VP had tested negative Friday morning, US time, and had been getting daily coronavirus tests for months.

As has been routine for months, Vice President Pence is tested for COVID-19 every day. This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19. Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery.

— Devin O’Malley (@VPPressSec) October 2, 2020

The negative test came just hours after President Donald Trump and his wife Melania tested positive for coronavirus.

Taking to Twitter on Friday, just before 1am local time for the president, Mr Trump confirmed the couple were self-isolating at the White House.

“We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” he wrote.

Mr Trump is believed to have caught the virus from Hope Hicks, one of the president’s closest advisers who travelled on Air Force One with him from the presidential debate on Tuesday and to his Minnesota rally on Wednesday.

Everyone seems to have an opinion about the president’s diagnosis, who has long been accused of not taking coronavirus seriously.

A handful of world leaders have already reached out to the president, including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has reportedly messaged Mr Trump privately.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the Trumps a “quick recovery”.

Wishing my friend @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a quick recovery and good health. https://t.co/f3AOOHLpaQ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2020

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who caught coronavirus earlier this year and suffered from it so severely he was admitted to intensive care, also wished the Trumps well.

My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus.

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 2, 2020

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Russia wished Mr Trump a “speedy recovery”, just like India and the UK.

“Of course we wish President Trump a speedy and easy recovery,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed his spokesman’s message and said he was sure the US leader’s “qualities” would help him fight off coronavirus.

“I am convinced that your vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus,” the Kremlin quoted Mr Putin as saying.

EU chief Charles Michel also wished the Trumps well.

Wishing @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a speedy recovery. #COVIDー19 is a battle we all continue to fight.

Everyday.

No matter where we live. https://t.co/w5WH1pgvpB

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) October 2, 2020

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization,

Dr Ghebreyesus has spent months pleading with Mr Trump to take the virus seriously as the US lost tens of thousands of people to the illness. More than 208,000 Americans have died from coronavirus, with 7.31 million cases confirmed.

During the presidential debate on Tuesday, Mr Trump was asked whether he believed in the efficacy of masks, a question he used to mock his opposition Joe Biden.

“I wear masks when needed. I don't wear masks like him,” Mr Trump said, motioning towards Mr Biden.

“Every time you see him, he's got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I've ever seen.”

That snide comment was quickly jumped on by Twitter after the president tested positive.

I was there in the debate hall. The entire Trump entourage came in w masks, took them off as soon as they sat down, refused to put them on when asked by Cleveland Clinic personnel. Flouting defiantly the law & rules. And Trump shouting only 8-10 feet from Biden for 90 mins. Oy

— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) October 2, 2020

Others simply wished the president a speedy recovery with one labelling Mr Trump’s diagnosis a “nightmare” and “total failure” by the White House team.

This is a nightmare.

COVID19 is a serious infection, especially for someone who is older like Mr. Trump.

I can't believe he was infected. This is a total failure by WH team to protect the President

Wishing both the President and The First Lady and speedy recovery. https://t.co/YVA2WpeNCu

— Ashish K. Jha (@ashishkjha) October 2, 2020

Mr Trump, who is 74 years old, is at high risk of developing severe coronavirus symptoms due to his age.

Melania, who is 24 years younger than the president and not as high risk, said she and her husband were “feeling good”.

As too many Americans have done this year, @potus & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together.

— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 2, 2020

And of course there were plenty of reactions relating to bleach after the president seemed to suggest injecting the toxic chemical might have an effect on coronavirus.

Let the bleach injections begin! https://t.co/Xnq8glag0o

— Jeff Sparrow (@Jeff_Sparrow) October 2, 2020

But I thought it was a hoax? Inject yourself with bleach? https://t.co/UTOmEJG11T

— Kurt Bardella (@kurtbardella) October 2, 2020

Queensland’s Health Minister Steven Miles was slammed for making a similar joke about bleach as his Twitter followers labelled him “tasteless” and “offensive”.

“From a health minister this is disgusting,” one follower added.

Have you considered intravenous disinfectant? https://t.co/4QutsVmEil

— Steven Miles (@StevenJMiles) October 2, 2020

Even Telstra decided to weigh in, making a joke about 5G after conspiracy theorists claimed coronavirus was spread by telecommunication towers transmitting 5G.

Don't even try and blame 5G for this. https://t.co/rmamU3mPIY

— Telstra (@Telstra) October 2, 2020