4 major political consequences of Trump's coronavirus diagnosis

It could hardly be a more fraught time for the White House

The White House.
(Image credit: Bill Chizek/iStock)

At the end of what was already a very long week even by his standards, President Trump announced on Friday morning that he and the first lady had tested positive for COVID-19. This was followed later by reports that Sen. Mike Lee of Utah had also become infected with the virus, and that Trump was being taken to Walter Reed Medical Center for precautionary reasons.

With 32 days until the election, another $2.2 trillion stimulus bill that includes direct payments of $1200 to Americans recently passed by the House and awaiting a vote in the Senate, and the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett assured by a slim majority in the upper chamber, the consequences of Friday's news are likely to be wide-ranging.

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Matthew Walther

Matthew Walther is a national correspondent at The Week. His work has also appeared in First Things, The Spectator of London, The Catholic Herald, National Review, and other publications. He is currently writing a biography of the Rev. Montague Summers. He is also a Robert Novak Journalism Fellow.