Trump tested positive for COVID-19 days before debate with Biden, Mark Meadows says
Former President Donald Trump received a positive COVID-19 test result days before participating in a presidential debate last year, according to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
In his forthcoming book, Meadows writes that Trump tested positive for the coronavirus on Sept. 26, three days before a debate with then-candidate Joe Biden, The Guardian reports. The candidates were required "to test negative for the virus within seventy-two hours of the start time," but "nothing was going to stop [Trump] from going out there," Meadows writes.
The positive test result came after the White House held a ceremony in the Rose Garden for Amy Coney Barrett, Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court. According to Meadows' account, Trump then tested negative for COVID-19 using a different test, but his initial positive result was not publicly announced at the time.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Meadows reportedly recalls delivering the news to Trump, who he says responded with a reply that "rhyme[d] with 'Oh spit, you've gotta be trucking lidding me.'" When Trump then received a negative result, he took this as "full permission to press on as if nothing had happened," the book says. Despite this, Meadows writes that he "instructed everyone in his immediate circle to treat him as if he was positive" during a Pennsylvania trip.
"I didn't want to take any unnecessary risks, but I also didn't want to alarm the public if there was nothing to worry about — which according to the new, much more accurate test, there was not," Meadows writes.
On the day of the debate, Meadows says Trump looked "slightly" better, but "the dark circles under his eyes had deepened" and he "was moving more slowly than usual." Moderator Chris Wallace has said Trump wasn't tested prior to the debate. Days later, Trump announced he tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 2, and he subsequently had to be hospitalized. Read more at The Guardian.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
India elections start amid violence, hate speech accusations
Talking Points Narendra Modi seeks a third term while critics worry about the future of the country's democracy
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Bird flu worries mount as virus found in milk, cows
Speed Read The FDA found traces of the virus in pasteurized grocery store milk
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Arizona grand jury indicts 18 in Trump fake elector plot
Speed Read The state charged Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani and other Trump allies in 2020 election interference case
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Who will win the 2024 presidential election?
In Depth Election year is here. Who are pollsters and experts predicting to win the White House?
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
National Enquirer helped Trump in 2016, ex-boss says
Speed Read David Pecker says the tabloid published fabricated content to hurt Trump's rivals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sitting in judgment on Trump
Opinion Who'd want to be on this jury?
By Susan Caskie Published
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published