Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office on Tuesday despite being sick with COVID, one of his most senior aides – Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow – revealed early Wednesday, sparking immediate chaos as other advisors claimed the president had not done so.
Kudlow told CNBC’s Squawk Box Wednesday that the president went with ‘extra precautions,’ then refused to say what they were claiming they were ‘much greater than simply masking.’
Astonishingly just minutes later the White House chief of staff Mark Meadows claimed Trump had not been in the Oval Office but was planning to go back later Wednesday.
Meadows’ adviser and White House Senior Communications Advisor Ben Williamson also said Trump did not leave his residence Tuesday.
‘While the President wanted to be in the Oval Office yesterday, he was not there—he stayed back in the residence working from there,’ Williamson tweeted Wednesday morning. ‘Safety preparations have been underway in the event he moves to working out of the Oval in the coming days.’
As the three men offered differing accounts, Trump launched another Twitter tirade after frenzied tweeting on Tuesday which caused a Wall Street sell off as he ordered off stimulus talks – only to entirely reverse himself on Tuesday night.
Doctors have voiced concerns that the powerful steroids Trump has been prescribed have significant side effects including causing agitation, mania, psychosis, and feelings in invincibility.
And Trump himself is being treated as massively contagious.
Any aides who come in contact with him is required to wear a yellow gown, surgical mask and disposable protective eye cover, a report revealed.
White House Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow said Wednesday morning that Donald Trump worked from the Oval Office on Tuesday – sparking confusion as other aides insisted the president had not left the Executive Residence since returning Monday evening
White House Senior Communications Advisor Ben Williamson tweeted Wednesday that ‘While the President wanted to be in the Oval Office yesterday, he was not there’
The comments come as White House personnel who come in contact with Donald Trump are required to wear full personal protective gear as there are still concerns the president could be infecting staff
Those who come in contact with the president are required to wear yellow gowns, surgical masks and disposable protective goggles per Center for Disease Control guidelines
Here a White House cleaning staff member disinfects the press briefing room in a hazmat suit
As part of his Twitter rant Wednesday, Trump took aim at Joe Biden and Democrats.
‘He’s been a wacko for years, and everyone knows it,’ the president said of his Democratic rival. ‘The Lamestream Media is stuck with him and they are just now trying to clean up his act. Notice how all of the bad things, like his very low IQ, are no longer reported? Fake News! #MAGA’
In another he wrote: ‘Talks unity but illegally spied on my campaign, and much worse – COUP! Too late for the nice talk Sleepy Joe! VOTE’
He also retweeted a doctored video of Michelle Obama where clips of cities burning during the riots earlier this year played as she railed against Trump and Republicans.
The president didn’t miss his chance to take aim at media during his Twitter spree.
‘THE MEDIA IS CORRUPT, JUST LIKE OUR DEMOCRAT RUN BALLOT SYSTEM IS CORRUPT! Look at what’s happening with Fake, Missing and Fraudulent Ballots all over the Country??? VOTE’ he wrote.
As of Tuesday, the West Wing was virtually empty as nearly two dozen aides, advisers and those within the president’s inner circle have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week – and those still negative have been told to work from home, aides told The New York Times.
While the aides said Trump sounded stronger than before upon the president’s return to the Executive Residence Monday night, they believe at times it appears he is trying to catch his breath.
Trump’s doctors said the president was treated with supplemental oxygen at least two times since he was put in their care.
Those with the White House cleaning team have been pictured disinfecting the press areas in the West Wing while wearing what appears to be full hazmat suits.
The full personal protective attire at one of Washington D.C.’s biggest hot spots fuels worries that Trump could still spread the disease.
Many of Trump’s top aides are now out of commission as they quarantine at home recovering from coronavirus – including much of Trump’s press shop with White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnanay and assistant press secretaries Chad Gilmartin and Karoline Leavitt all testing positive.
In the midst of confusion over his whereabouts on Tuesday, Trump launched a Twitter tirade Wednesday morning railing against Joe Biden as a ‘wacko’
He also took aim at media
Trump retweeted a doctored video of Michelle Obama showing clips of riots and cities burning earlier this year and she railed against Republicans for painting black Americans as violent
Although Trump has been seen wearing a face mask more often as of late, he still continues to refuse to regularly don the protective gear.
Trump announced that he and first lady Melania had tested positive for coronavirus overnight Thursday – the two were prompted to take a test after the president’s counselor Hope Hicks tested positive earlier in the day.
On Friday, the 74-year-old president was transferred to Walter Reed Medical Center where he remained for three nights.
Reports indicated Trump was ‘bored’ and anxious to leave – further evident by his flurry of tweets and videos from the presidential suite at the hospital and his ‘stunt’ car ride to greet from his air-right SUV loyalists posted outside Walter Reed with signs of encouragement for the president’s recovery.
So far, 21 people – including the president and first lady – have tested positive after gathering at two ‘super spreader’ events.
The latest to test positive is White House policy adviser Stephen Miller whose wife, press secretary to Vice President Katie Miller, tested positive earlier this year.
It appears COVID-19 was able to infect so many in the latest outbreak due to last Saturday’s Rose Garden event announcing Amy Coney Barrett as Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nominee and the following day when an event for bereaved military ‘Gold Star’ families that was held indoors at the White House.
Trump was transferred from Walter Reed to the White House Monday evening as his top physician, Dr. Sean Conley, explained the president was being treated with dexamethasone, a steroid; remdesivir, an antiviral medication; and occasional supplemental oxygen.
As the president takes a break from campaigning and many presidential duties as he recuperates from the White House, he has still used his favorite outlet to voice his thoughts and opinions throughout his recovery.
He has taken to social media several times to tweet and retweet on a wide range of topics, including slamming the FBI, FDA, Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chris Wallace.