PriceSensitive

President Trump conducts drive-by for supporters

Economy
05 October 2020 18:09 (AEDT)

President Trump drives past supporters in a motorcade outside of Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on Sunday. Source: AAP

President Donald Trump surprised supporters gathered outside of the Walter Reed Medical Centre this morning after a weekend of mixed reports about his health.

The president confirmed on Friday afternoon that he and his wife, Melania, had been diagnosed with COVID-19 after a close aide contracted the disease. He was hospitalised soon thereafter.

This morning, a mask-clad President Trump waved to fans in a motorcade drive-by to thank them for their support before heading back into the hospital where he is being treated.

Prior to the drive-by, the president tweeted a video thanking the hospital staff for his treatment and saying he was planning a “little surprise” to his supporters outside the hospital.

Of course, the president’s actions have been met with criticism given his proximity to Secret Service members inside of the vehicle.

Dr James P.Phillips, the attending physician at Walter Reed, labelled the stunt “insanity”.

“Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theatre. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity,” Dr Phillips said on Twitter.

The President has not been active on Twitter since his video this morning.

Mixed reports

Today’s actions come after a weekend of mixed reports about the president’s condition.

A day after Trump confirmed he had COVID-19, his medical team was already saying his condition was improving and talking about him returning to the White House.

However, minutes later his chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters his condition had been “very concerning” since he had been hospitalised.

It was later revealed President Trump had a high fever and had been given supplementary oxygen on Friday out of concern of possible “rapid progression of the illness”.

Today, however, John Hopkins doctor Brian Garibaldi, who is assisting in Trump’s treatment, said the president’s condition is much better.

“Today he feels well. He’s been up and around. Our plan for today is to have him to eat and drink, be up out of bed as much as possible, to be mobile,” Dr Garibaldi said.

In fact, he said the President could be discharged and continue his treatment in the White House as early as this evening, Australian time.

Related News