White House: Trump has not been tested for coronavirus

Donald Trump prepares to hug a flag at CPAC.
(Image credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Despite spending time around Republican lawmakers who were exposed to the COVID-19 coronavirus and have self-quarantined, President Trump has not been tested for the virus, the White House announced Monday.

White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement that Trump "has not received COVID-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms. President Trump remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him."

At a news conference Monday evening, Trump had declined to say whether he had been tested for the virus, and Vice President Mike Pence said he has not been tested.

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Several GOP lawmakers have self-quarantined after learning that last month, they interacted with a person at the Conservative Political Action Conference who has since been diagnosed with COVID-19. Trump also attended CPAC, where he hugged, kissed, and called an American flag "baby."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.