skynewsus--2020-10-03--The 25th amendment: America's back-up plan when a president cannot perform their duties

Donald Trump is said to be doing well as he is treated in hospital for coronavirus - but what happens if his condition worsens and he becomes seriously ill ?
The 25th Amendment to the US Constitution can be invoked whenever a president is , for any reason , unable to carry out their duties , including being incapacitated .
Under the amendment , power could be transferred to the Vice President Mike Pence temporarily or more permanently .
Mr Trump has not invoked it and the White House says he will be working from an office at the Walter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updates from UK and around the world How does the 25th amendment work ?
A president who knows he is or will be unable to perform the duties of the office notifies Congress , and the vice president becomes the acting president .
That arrangement continues until the president sends another notice to declare that he is once again able to do the job .
That is spelled out in section three of the amendment .
The next section of the amendment , section four , has never been invoked .
This lays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to discharge his duties but does not transfer power .
In that case , the vice president and majority of the cabinet can declare the president unfit .
They would then send a letter to the House speaker and president pro tempore - the second-highest ranking official in the Senate - saying so .
The vice president then becomes acting president .
If the president ultimately becomes ready to resume his duties , the president can send a letter saying this .
But if the vice president and majority of the Cabinet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress within four days .
Congress would then have to vote .
The president resumes his duties unless both houses of Congress agree by a two-thirds majority to say he is not ready .
What happens if the president and vice president both become incapacitated ?
First in line to serve as the acting president is the House speaker , now Nancy Pelosi , followed by the president pro tempore of the Senate , who is now Chuck Grassley of Iowa , followed by members of the cabinet .
But Ms Pelosi or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the role , because they would be required to resign from Congress in order to take the position and could serve only until Congress finally decided who the president will be .
Why was the amendment introduced in the first place ?
It was brought in following the assassination of President John F Kennedy in 1963 .
His successor Lyndon Johnson promised in 1965 to propose laws ensuring there was a continuation of leadership should a president become disabled or die .
It addressed the Kennedy situation by saying that whenever a president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becomes president .
Congress passed the amendment later that year and it was ratified in 1967 .
Has it been invoked before ?
Yes .
Presidents have temporarily relinquished power but not all invoked the 25th amendment .
Previous transfers of power have generally been brief and happened when the president was undergoing a medical procedure .
In 2002 , President George W Bush became the first to use section three to temporarily transfer power to Vice President Dick Cheney while Mr Bush was given a general anaesthetic when he had a colonoscopy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again in 2007 to undergo another colonoscopy .
In 1985 , President Reagan temporarily transferred power to Vice President George H W Bush while undergoing surgery to remove a polyp from his colon .
But he said at the time he was not formally invoking the 25th amendment .
Also , the amendment was not invoked after President Reagan was shot in 1981 .
White House senior staff members discussed the measure , but Vice President Bush was travelling at the time .
When he returned to Washington , the president 's condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full recovery .

The 25th Amendment to the US Constitution can be invoked whenever a president is, for any reason, unable to carry out their duties, including being incapacitated.
The issue was raised when Donald Trump was admitted to hospital after contracting coronavirus.
Under the amendment, power could be transferred to the Vice President Mike Pence temporarily or more permanently.
Mr Trump received treatment at the Walter Reed Hospital in Maryland for three nights, before returning to the White House. He did not invoke the 25th amendment.
But the issue has raised its head again, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announcing legislation on Friday that would create a commission to allow Congress to intervene under the amendment and remove the president from executive duties.
Latest coronavirus updates from UK and around the world
Image: Mike Pence would take over if Mr Trump is unable to do his job
How does the 25th amendment work?
A president who knows he is or will be unable to perform the duties of the office notifies Congress, and the vice president becomes the acting president.
That arrangement continues until the president sends another notice to declare that he is once again able to do the job. That is spelled out in section three of the amendment.
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The next section of the amendment, section four, has never been invoked. This lays out what happens if the president becomes unable to discharge his duties but does not transfer power.
In that case, the vice president and majority of the cabinet can declare the president unfit.
They would then send a letter to the House speaker and president pro tempore - the second-highest ranking official in the Senate - saying so. The vice president then becomes acting president.
If the president ultimately becomes ready to resume his duties, the president can send a letter saying this. But if the vice president and majority of the Cabinet disagree they can send a letter to Congress within four days. Congress would then have to vote.
The president resumes his duties unless both houses of Congress agree by a two-thirds majority to say he is not ready.
What happens if the president and vice president both become incapacitated?
First in line to serve as the acting president is the House speaker, now Nancy Pelosi, followed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who is now Chuck Grassley of Iowa, followed by members of the cabinet.
But Ms Pelosi or Mr Grassley might be reluctant to accept the role, because they would be required to resign from Congress in order to take the position and could serve only until Congress finally decided who the president will be.
Image: Lyndon Johnson introduced the 25th Amendment
Why was the amendment introduced in the first place?
It was brought in following the assassination of President John F Kennedy in 1963.
His successor Lyndon Johnson promised in 1965 to propose laws ensuring there was a continuation of leadership should a president become disabled or die.
It addressed the Kennedy situation by saying that whenever a president dies or resigns, the vice president becomes president.
Congress passed the amendment later that year and it was ratified in 1967.
Image: George W Bush temporarily transferred power to Vice President Dick Cheney in 2002 and 2007
Has it been invoked before?
Yes. Presidents have temporarily relinquished power but not all invoked the 25th amendment.
Previous transfers of power have generally been brief and happened when the president was undergoing a medical procedure.
In 2002, President George W Bush became the first to use section three to temporarily transfer power to Vice President Dick Cheney while Mr Bush was given a general anaesthetic when he had a colonoscopy.
President Bush also temporarily transferred power again in 2007 to undergo another colonoscopy.
In 1985, President Reagan temporarily transferred power to Vice President George H W Bush while undergoing surgery to remove a polyp from his colon.
But he said at the time he was not formally invoking the 25th amendment.
Also, the amendment was not invoked after President Reagan was shot in 1981.
White House senior staff members discussed the measure, but Vice President Bush was travelling at the time. When he returned to Washington, the president's condition had stabilised, and doctors anticipated a full recovery.


skynewsus--2020-10-03--Who else close to Donald Trump has tested positive for COVID-19?

Several cases have been confirmed among those who have had close contact with Donald Trump and his aide Hope Hicks , whose diagnosis prompted the test that confirmed the US president had the coronavirus .
The period between infection and sickness can be anything from a few days to two weeks , so he could have contracted it on a number of occasions and from a variety of people .
Latest coronavirus updates from UK and around the world Here is a summary of some of those involved so far : US president since 2016 , he has seen his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 .
He was at the White House Rose Garden last Saturday 26 September to announce the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
He attended a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday night , and another event in Ohio on Monday .
He was at a fundraiser and rally on Wednesday in Minnesota , where he did a shorter speech than usual .
By Thursday morning Mr Trump would have been aware of the positive test result for Hope Hicks .
Despite this , he went ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club in New Jersey .
According to public health guidelines he should have isolated , having been in close proximity to someone infected with the virus .
In the early hours of Friday , after returning from the New Jersey event , he tweeted to say he and his wife had tested positive and were in isolation .
Presidential adviser and former White House communications director .
She is a close confidante to Mr Trump .
Ms Hicks was not at the Rose Garden event on 26 September .
She was part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Cleveland for the presidential debate on Tuesday .
She returned a negative test on Wednesday morning and joined others for the trip to Minnesota that day .
It was in Minnesota that she reported feeling unwell .
She stayed apart from others on the first leg of the journey ( by plane ) and did not take the crowded Marine One back to the White House .
On Thursday morning her test was positive .
Those who had been near her were not immediately told .
She often travels with her president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garden event in late September .
Her diagnosis was announced at the same time as her husband 's on Friday 2 October .
She tweeted later in the day that she was experiencing `` mild symptoms '' and was `` overall feeling good '' , adding : £ '' I am looking forward to a speedy recovery . ''
Former presidential adviser who left the White House in August .
She was at the Rose Garden event on Saturday , sitting in the front row .
Pictures of the event showed a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many without masks , including Mrs Conway .
She tweeted : `` My symptoms are mild ( light cough ) and I 'm feeling fine . ''
Republican from Utah , Mr Lee was also at the Rose Garden last Saturday and met Amy Coney Barrett , who was announced as Mr Trump 's pick for the vacant seat on the US Supreme Court , a few days later .
He announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday , after a negative result earlier in the week .
Republican from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judiciary Committee .
He had a negative test before attending the White House Rose Garden event on Saturday and he met Mr Trump 's Supreme Court nominee Ms Coney Barrett on Wednesday .
Mr Tillis was pictured wearing a mask at the Saturday event , but not at the Wednesday meeting .
On Thursday night he took part in a debate with the Democratic challenger for his senate seat , Cal Cunningham .
Both wore masks .
Mr Tillis revealed his positive test result on Friday .
Mr Cunningham has said he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Notre Dame , Mr Jenkins is another person who was at the Rose Garden event last Saturday and who announced his positive test result on Friday .
The university 's vice president Paul Browne said in a statement that Mr Jenkins had `` learned that a colleague with whom he has been in regular contact tested positive for COVID-19 '' .
The president 's campaign manager has also tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing `` mild flu-like symptoms '' .
Mr Trump 's immediate campaign events have all been cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden , scheduled for 15 October , is now in question .
The trio tested positive on Friday after spending last weekend at the White House or travelling with Mr Trump , according to Zeke Miller , president of the White House Correspondents ' Association .
Democratic presidential candidate , Mr Biden debated with Mr Trump in Cleveland on Tuesday .
Unlike Mr Trump , Mr Biden has regularly worn a mask when in public .
However , during the exchanges , he was not wearing one .
Many people in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members , were also not wearing masks .
Both Mr Biden and his wife Jill tested negative on Friday .
Mr Biden 's running mate , candidate for vice president , had a routine test and the result was negative on Thursday .
Mr Trump 's nominee for the Supreme Court was at the Rose Garden event on 26 September to accept her Supreme Court nomination .
She recovered from a confirmed case of the coronavirus earlier this year .
The US vice president and his wife Karen tested negative on Friday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in the Oval Office with the president on Tuesday and was last publicly seen with him at a Monday news conference .
The US Attorney General was at the Rose Garden event on 26 September and was seen without a mask , speaking with Mrs Conway , but he tested negative on Friday , a Department of Justice spokesperson said .

Several cases have been confirmed among those who have had close contact with Donald Trump and his aide Hope Hicks, whose diagnosis prompted the test that confirmed the US president had the coronavirus.
The period between infection and sickness can be anything from a few days to two weeks, so he could have contracted it on a number of occasions and from a variety of people.
Latest coronavirus updates from UK and around the world
Here is a summary of some of those involved so far:
Positive tests:
Donald Trump, 74
US president since 2016, he has seen his campaign effectively put on hold after testing positive for COVID-19.
He was at the White House Rose Garden last Saturday 26 September to announce the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. He attended a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday night, and another event in Ohio on Monday.
Image: On 26 September Donald Trump held an event in the Rose Garden to announce his nominee for the Supreme Court
He was at a fundraiser and rally on Wednesday in Minnesota, where he did a shorter speech than usual.
By Thursday morning Mr Trump would have been aware of the positive test result for Hope Hicks. Despite this, he went ahead with a fundraising trip to his golf club in New Jersey. According to public health guidelines he should have isolated, having been in close proximity to someone infected with the virus.
In the early hours of Friday, after returning from the New Jersey event, he tweeted to say he and his wife had tested positive and were in isolation.
Image: Hope Hicks
Hope Hicks, 31
Presidential adviser and former White House communications director. She is a close confidante to Mr Trump.
Ms Hicks was not at the Rose Garden event on 26 September.
She was part of the team who travelled with Mr Trump to Cleveland for the presidential debate on Tuesday. She returned a negative test on Wednesday morning and joined others for the trip to Minnesota that day. It was in Minnesota that she reported feeling unwell.
She stayed apart from others on the first leg of the journey (by plane) and did not take the crowded Marine One back to the White House. On Thursday morning her test was positive. Those who had been near her were not immediately told.
Image: Melania Trump
Melania Trump, 50
First lady, wife of Donald Trump.
She often travels with her president husband and she was at the Rose Garden event in late September.
Her diagnosis was announced at the same time as her husband's on Friday 2 October.
She tweeted later in the day that she was experiencing "mild symptoms" and was "overall feeling good", adding: "I am looking forward to a speedy recovery."
Image: Kellyanne Conway
Kellyanne Conway, 53
Former presidential adviser who left the White House in August.
She was at the Rose Garden event on Saturday, sitting in the front row.
Pictures of the event showed a few hundred people sitting close to each other, many without masks, including Mrs Conway.
She tweeted: "My symptoms are mild (light cough) and I'm feeling fine."
Image: Amy Coney Barrett with Mike Lee on 29 September
Senator Mike Lee, 49
Republican from Utah, Mr Lee was also at the Rose Garden last Saturday and met Amy Coney Barrett, who was announced as Mr Trump's pick for the vacant seat on the US Supreme Court, a few days later.
He announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, after a negative result earlier in the week.
Image: Thom Tillis
Senator Thom Tillis, 60
Republican from North Carolina and a member of the Judiciary Committee.
He had a negative test before attending the White House Rose Garden event on Saturday and he met Mr Trump's Supreme Court nominee Ms Coney Barrett on Wednesday. Mr Tillis was pictured wearing a mask at the Saturday event, but not at the Wednesday meeting.
On Thursday night he took part in a debate with the Democratic challenger for his senate seat, Cal Cunningham. Both wore masks.
Mr Tillis revealed his positive test result on Friday. Mr Cunningham has said he will get tested.
Image: Republican senator Ron Johnson
Senator Ron Johnson, 65
Republican senator for Wisconsin.
Mr Johnson was not at the Rose Garden event on 26 September, as he was already self-isolating from another possible coronavirus exposure, his spokesperson said.
His quarantine tests came back negative, but he is thought to have contracted the virus "shortly after" returning to Washington DC on 29 September, testing positive on Friday 2 October.
He is the third Republican senator to test positive, but is not experiencing symptoms.
Image: John Jenkins
John Jenkins, 65
President of the University of Notre Dame, Mr Jenkins is another person who was at the Rose Garden event last Saturday and who announced his positive test result on Friday.
The university's vice president Paul Browne said in a statement that Mr Jenkins had "learned that a colleague with whom he has been in regular contact tested positive for COVID-19".
Image: Bill Stepien
Bill Stepien, 42
The president's campaign manager has also tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing "mild flu-like symptoms".
Mr Trump's immediate campaign events have all been cancelled, and his next debate with Democrat Joe Biden, scheduled for 15 October, is now in question.
Image: Former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie
Chris Christie, 58
The ex-New Jersey governor, who helped Mr Trump prepare for the TV presidential debate in Cleveland last Tuesday, revealed on Saturday he had tested positive.
He had spent several days helping the president get ready for his clash with Mr Biden.
Mr Christie is overweight and was admitted to hospital in 2011 with an asthma attack. He said later on Saturday that he was checking himself into a hospital as a precautionary measure.
Image: Nicholas Luna, assistant to the president and director of Oval Office operations (R) speaks with Mr Trump
Nick Luna
Assistant to the president and director of Oval Office operations.
Known as one of Mr Trump's bodyguards, Mr Luna was in close contact with the president until Thursday.
He travelled with him to the TV debate in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, a rally and fundraiser in Minneapolis on Wednesday and was on board Air Force One when aide Hope Hicks began experiencing symptoms.
Mr Luna had planned to accompany Mr Trump to Bedminster, New Jersey on Thursday, but decided against it after Ms Hicks began self-isolating and later tested positive.
He tested positive himself on Saturday.
Image: White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany
Kayleigh McEnany, 32
The White House press secretary tweeted: "After testing negative consistently, including every day since Thursday, I tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday morning while experiencing no symptoms".
Ms McEnany was taken off the president's trip to a rally in Bedminster on Thursday, but was not told why, a senior White House official told NBC.
She said in a statement she "definitively had no knowledge of Hope Hicks' diagnosis prior to holding a White House press briefing on Thursday".
She spoke briefly with reporters on Sunday evening, but said no members of the White House press corps spent enough time around her to be considered close contacts.
Image: White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller
Stephen Miller, 35
In a statement on Tuesday the White House senior policy adviser said: "Over the last 5 days I have been working remotely and self-isolating, testing negative every day through yesterday. Today, I tested positive for COVID-19 and am in quarantine."
Mr Miller was one of several involved in Trump's debate preparation who have since tested positive for the virus.
Three journalists
The trio tested positive on Friday after spending last weekend at the White House or travelling with Mr Trump, according to Zeke Miller, president of the White House Correspondents' Association.
Jalen Drummond
Less than two months after becoming assistant White House press secretary to Kayleigh McEnany, Mr Drummond tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday morning.
He is the third White House press aide to test positive.
Mr Drummond attended the Rose Garden ceremony announcing Army Coney Barrett's Supreme Court nomination on 26 September.
Negative tests:
Image: Joe Biden
Joe Biden, 77
Democratic presidential candidate, Mr Biden debated with Mr Trump in Cleveland on Tuesday.
Unlike Mr Trump, Mr Biden has regularly worn a mask when in public. However, during the exchanges, he was not wearing one.
Many people in the audience, including Mr Trump's family members, were also not wearing masks.
Both Mr Biden and his wife Jill tested negative on Friday.
Image: Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris, 55
Mr Biden's running mate, candidate for vice president, had a routine test and the result was negative on Thursday.
Image: Amy Coney Barrett
Amy Coney Barrett, 48
Mr Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court was at the Rose Garden event on 26 September to accept her Supreme Court nomination.
She recovered from a confirmed case of the coronavirus earlier this year.
Image: Mike Pence
Mike Pence, 61
The US vice president and his wife Karen tested negative on Friday morning.
According to reports, Mr Pence was in the Oval Office with the president on Tuesday and was last publicly seen with him at a Monday news conference.
Image: William Barr
William Barr, 70
The US Attorney General was at the Rose Garden event on 26 September and was seen without a mask, speaking with Mrs Conway, but he tested negative on Friday, a Department of Justice spokesperson said.


skynewsus--2020-10-03--100 years ago, a pandemic was raging and the US president became infected. Sound familiar?

A pandemic was ravaging America , thousands were dead or dying , and the president was infected .
His name was Woodrow Wilson and one century ago he was in a situation similar to the position Donald Trump finds himself in now .
Only then , the illness that laid Mr Wilson low had been dubbed the Spanish flu , not the coronavirus that has infected Mr Trump , First Lady Melania Trump , and more than seven million other Americans .
Latest coronavirus updates from UK and around the world And when Mr Wilson got sick in April 1919 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World War One , his wife , Edith , quickly stepped in to make sure as few people as possible knew the president was ailing .
`` Wilson 's wife was able to conceal his illness by setting up a bubble around him , '' Thomas Schwartz , a professor of history at Vanderbilt University in Nashville , Tennessee , told NBC News .
`` They explained the disease as coming from overwork , something people would have believed as Wilson was known to be a workaholic . ''
Mrs Wilson did the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke and she stepped in to help run the country in the waning days of her husband 's presidency .
Mr Trump , on the other hand , announced via Twitter early on Friday that he and the first lady had tested positive for COVID-19 and were self-isolating .
They were among the 300,000 Americans who got infected this week with the coronavirus , the latest NBC News figures showed .
`` It was a very different media environment back then , '' Prof Schwartz said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States did not happen for another year and most Americans got their news from newspapers that did not cover the president as closely or as critically as they do now , he said .
While the federal government and other institutions like Johns Hopkins University report daily how many people in the US have died of COVID-19 ( 209,103 deaths out of 7.3 million confirmed cases , according to the NBC News tally ) , most Americans back in Mr Wilson 's day did not grasp how deadly the Spanish flu was .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 to 40 million people around the world .
`` Against the backdrop of World War One , President Wilson significantly downplayed the 1918 pandemic that infected a quarter of Americans , '' Dr Howard Koh , a Harvard University professor who was the assistant secretary of health and human services during the administration of President Barack Obama , said in an email .
`` A century later , the deadliest pandemic since has arrived on President Trump 's doorstep .
Unfortunately , pretending that a pandemic does not exist will not make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself from the harsh criticism Mr Trump has received for his bungled response to the coronavirus by simply not talking about the Spanish flu .
`` Woodrow Wilson never made a public statement of any kind about the pandemic , '' Patrick Maney , a professor of history at Boston College , said .
`` As a result , it 's one of the least known catastrophes of any kind . ''
Not that Mr Wilson would have listened if anybody told him to focus more on the pandemic and less on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The Great Influenza : The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History .
`` Much like Trump , he did not tolerate criticism from friend or foe , '' Mr Barry said of Mr Wilson in an interview with The New Yorker .
`` All this makes Wilson 's complete silence on the pandemic understandable in only one context : he would do nothing to distract him or the nation from the war effort . ''
Mr Schwartz largely agreed .
`` Wilson did face some criticism for the way he handled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level Trump has , '' he said .
`` Part of the reason is because World War One really overshadowed the pandemic , somewhat diminishing the degree to which Wilson was criticised . ''
Mr Trump , who never served in the military , dubbed himself a `` wartime president '' as the pandemic was accelerating .
But he has also repeatedly downplayed the danger of COVID-19 and politicised the recommended safety precautions like wearing masks by refusing to don one in public until just recently .
Not only has the Trump base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , but so also has his family .
And now , Mr Trump himself has fallen victim to his own false messaging .
In addition , a Cornell University study suggested that Mr Trump was responsible for at least 38 % of the COVID-19 misinformation that has stymied the public health response to this plague and sown so much confusion in the American public .
Among other things , Mr Trump promoted unproven `` miracle cures '' for the coronavirus and claimed with zero evidence that the pandemic was a `` Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency .
While publicly diminishing the pandemic 's danger during daily briefings or at campaign rallies where his followers rarely wore masks or practiced social distancing , Mr Trump was caught on tape privately telling the reporter Bob Woodward back in February that COVID-19 was `` deadly stuff '' .
The result was a chaotic response to an unfolding crisis in a country where a big chunk of the population does n't seem to understand it is still in danger .
`` Rather than heeding the warnings of 1918 , this country has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ca n't allow that to continue any longer , '' Dr Koh said .
This article first appeared on NBC News .

A pandemic was ravaging America, thousands were dead or dying, and the president was infected.
His name was Woodrow Wilson and one century ago he was in a situation similar to the position Donald Trump finds himself in now.
Only then, the illness that laid Mr Wilson low had been dubbed the Spanish flu, not the coronavirus that has infected Mr Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and more than seven million other Americans.
Latest coronavirus updates from UK and around the world
And when Mr Wilson got sick in April 1919 while in Paris negotiating the end of World War One, his wife, Edith, quickly stepped in to make sure as few people as possible knew the president was ailing.
"Wilson's wife was able to conceal his illness by setting up a bubble around him," Thomas Schwartz, a professor of history at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, told NBC News.
"They explained the disease as coming from overwork, something people would have believed as Wilson was known to be a workaholic."
Mrs Wilson did the same thing a few months later when Mr Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke and she stepped in to help run the country in the waning days of her husband's presidency.
Mr Trump, on the other hand, announced via Twitter early on Friday that he and the first lady had tested positive for COVID-19 and were self-isolating.
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They were among the 300,000 Americans who got infected this week with the coronavirus, the latest NBC News figures showed.
Image: Donald Trump leaves the White House for Walter Reed Military Hospital in Maryland
"It was a very different media environment back then," Prof Schwartz said.
The first news radio broadcast in the United States did not happen for another year and most Americans got their news from newspapers that did not cover the president as closely or as critically as they do now, he said.
While the federal government and other institutions like Johns Hopkins University report daily how many people in the US have died of COVID-19 (209,103 deaths out of 7.3 million confirmed cases, according to the NBC News tally), most Americans back in Mr Wilson's day did not grasp how deadly the Spanish flu was.
It wound up killing 675,000 Americans and 20 to 40 million people around the world.
"Against the backdrop of World War One, President Wilson significantly downplayed the 1918 pandemic that infected a quarter of Americans," Dr Howard Koh, a Harvard University professor who was the assistant secretary of health and human services during the administration of President Barack Obama, said in an email.
"A century later, the deadliest pandemic since has arrived on President Trump's doorstep. Unfortunately, pretending that a pandemic does not exist will not make it so."
Mr Wilson immunised himself from the harsh criticism Mr Trump has received for his bungled response to the coronavirus by simply not talking about the Spanish flu.
Image: Woodrow Wilson caught the Spanish flu
"Woodrow Wilson never made a public statement of any kind about the pandemic," Patrick Maney, a professor of history at Boston College, said. "As a result, it's one of the least known catastrophes of any kind."
Not that Mr Wilson would have listened if anybody told him to focus more on the pandemic and less on the war, said John Barry, author of The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History.
"Much like Trump, he did not tolerate criticism from friend or foe," Mr Barry said of Mr Wilson in an interview with The New Yorker.
"All this makes Wilson's complete silence on the pandemic understandable in only one context: he would do nothing to distract him or the nation from the war effort."
Mr Schwartz largely agreed. "Wilson did face some criticism for the way he handled the pandemic, but not at the level Trump has," he said.
"Part of the reason is because World War One really overshadowed the pandemic, somewhat diminishing the degree to which Wilson was criticised."
Mr Trump, who never served in the military, dubbed himself a "wartime president" as the pandemic was accelerating.
But he has also repeatedly downplayed the danger of COVID-19 and politicised the recommended safety precautions like wearing masks by refusing to don one in public until just recently.
Not only has the Trump base taken its mask avoidance cues from the president, but so also has his family. And now, Mr Trump himself has fallen victim to his own false messaging.
In addition, a Cornell University study suggested that Mr Trump was responsible for at least 38% of the COVID-19 misinformation that has stymied the public health response to this plague and sown so much confusion in the American public.
Among other things, Mr Trump promoted unproven "miracle cures" for the coronavirus and claimed with zero evidence that the pandemic was a "Democratic Party hoax" aimed at derailing his presidency.
Image: Mr Trump has dubbed himself a 'wartime president' during the pandemic
While publicly diminishing the pandemic's danger during daily briefings or at campaign rallies where his followers rarely wore masks or practiced social distancing, Mr Trump was caught on tape privately telling the reporter Bob Woodward back in February that COVID-19 was "deadly stuff".
The result was a chaotic response to an unfolding crisis in a country where a big chunk of the population doesn't seem to understand it is still in danger.
"Rather than heeding the warnings of 1918, this country has continued to underestimate this virus - and we can't allow that to continue any longer," Dr Koh said.
This article first appeared on NBC News.


skynewsus--2020-10-02--Anger, frustration, lack of concern: Americans react to news of Trump's coronavirus diagnosis

People in the New York neighbourhood where Donald Trump grew up know only too well that COVID-19 does n't discriminate .
In six months more than 33,000 people have died with the virus in New York and more than 6,000 in the borough of Queens - the city 's worst-hit area .
Elmhurst Hospital in Queens was at the epicentre of New York 's outbreak .
The scenes were described by staff as apocalyptic .
It was so overwhelmed with patients that refrigerated lorries were brought in to store the dead .
Perhaps little surprise there was a sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president has tested positive .
`` He 's acting like he 's immune , like he 's a superhero .
He 's a normal regular person , '' said healthcare worker Angel Candelario .
`` America 's supposed to consider itself a superpower .
Right now , it does n't look like it . ''
This has all come at a deeply testing and tense time for America , and just a month from the presidential election .
The country has lost more people than anywhere else in the world to COVID-19 - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 20 % of global deaths .
You do n't need to go far in Queens to meet someone who has lost a loved one to COVID-19 - and many lost patience with the president 's handling of the crisis months ago .
`` It 's very scary .
He should have found a safer way and used his mask , '' said hospital worker Audrey Murphy .
`` If the president has COVID , it gives a bad outlook for everybody else .
`` I lost a lot of people that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And I just think it should have been handled in a better way . ''
The president politicised face masks early on in the pandemic , only endorsing them four months into the crisis .
Even then he has only personally been seen in public two or three time wearing a mask - instead , he opts for daily testing and has often referred to himself as the most tested person in America .
But testing does n't protect from the virus .
Now , Mr Trump 's diagnosis undermines his positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message of his election campaign that America is through the worst of the pandemic .
What will be telling is how his positive test is received by swathes of Americans who believe the threat of coronavirus is being exaggerated to hamper his re-election .
Len Swanson first met Sky News at an anti-masking rally in Texas .
He calls himself the face of the resistance to coronavirus measures and is unconcerned by the president 's illness .
`` Yes your prime minister got sick but he 's not Donald Trump , '' Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has kept himself in better health conditions than your prime minister did .
We 're not concerned with our president .
I know he 's got the same attitude and resolve as I do .
: : Subscribe to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker '' He is right now conducting meetings .
He 's on Zoom meetings .
He 's on the telephone now .
He 's not sitting in bed .
He 's being the president ...
It 's a hoax .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has been politicised as a weapon to strike fear in order to try to derail the Trump government . ''
The reality is we do n't know what Mr Trump is doing right now .
This is a narrative some of his supporters want to believe - that coronavirus is a hoax and that the commander in chief is still actively at the helm running the country from quarantine .
In the coming weeks the reality could be very different if the president 's health deteriorates .
This is a crucial moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most testing years in American history .
The president 's health has now thrown the country into yet more uncertainty .

People in the New York neighbourhood where Donald Trump grew up know only too well that COVID-19 doesn't discriminate.
In six months more than 33,000 people have died with the virus in New York and more than 6,000 in the borough of Queens - the city's worst-hit area.
Elmhurst Hospital in Queens was at the epicentre of New York's outbreak. The scenes were described by staff as apocalyptic. It was so overwhelmed with patients that refrigerated lorries were brought in to store the dead.
Image: Elmhurst Hospital in Queens was at the epicentre of New York's outbreak
Perhaps little surprise there was a sense of frustration from hospital staff to news the president has tested positive.
"He's acting like he's immune, like he's a superhero. He's a normal regular person," said healthcare worker Angel Candelario. "America's supposed to consider itself a superpower. Right now, it doesn't look like it."
This has all come at a deeply testing and tense time for America, and just a month from the presidential election. The country has lost more people than anywhere else in the world to COVID-19 - more than 207,000 lives, accounting for more than 20% of global deaths.
You don't need to go far in Queens to meet someone who has lost a loved one to COVID-19 - and many lost patience with the president's handling of the crisis months ago.
"It's very scary. He should have found a safer way and used his mask," said hospital worker Audrey Murphy. "If the president has COVID, it gives a bad outlook for everybody else.
"I lost a lot of people that I work with and friends and family. And I just think it should have been handled in a better way."
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The president politicised face masks early on in the pandemic, only endorsing them four months into the crisis. Even then he has only personally been seen in public two or three time wearing a mask - instead, he opts for daily testing and has often referred to himself as the most tested person in America. But testing doesn't protect from the virus.
Now, Mr Trump's diagnosis undermines his positive spin on the pandemic and a core message of his election campaign that America is through the worst of the pandemic.
What will be telling is how his positive test is received by swathes of Americans who believe the threat of coronavirus is being exaggerated to hamper his re-election.
Len Swanson first met Sky News at an anti-masking rally in Texas. He calls himself the face of the resistance to coronavirus measures and is unconcerned by the president's illness.
"Yes your prime minister got sick but he's not Donald Trump," Mr Swanson told Sky News.
"Donald Trump has kept himself in better health conditions than your prime minister did. We're not concerned with our president. I know he's got the same attitude and resolve as I do.
:: Subscribe to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
"He is right now conducting meetings. He's on Zoom meetings. He's on the telephone now. He's not sitting in bed. He's being the president... It's a hoax. It's a virus, yes, but it has been politicised as a weapon to strike fear in order to try to derail the Trump government."
The reality is we don't know what Mr Trump is doing right now. This is a narrative some of his supporters want to believe - that coronavirus is a hoax and that the commander in chief is still actively at the helm running the country from quarantine. In the coming weeks the reality could be very different if the president's health deteriorates.
This is a crucial moment in the election cycle - and one of the most testing years in American history. The president's health has now thrown the country into yet more uncertainty.


skynewsus--2020-10-04--Trump says he is 'starting to feel good' after hospital admission for coronavirus

Donald Trump has said he is starting to feel `` much better '' but the next few days will be `` the real test '' of his treatment for COVID-19 .
In a video posted during his stay in hospital , the US president said on Saturday that he was `` starting to feel good '' and was looking forward to `` finishing up the ( election ) campaign the way it was started '' .
Speaking from his room at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , a tired-looking Mr Trump said : `` I came here , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much better now .
`` We are working hard to get me all the way back .
I have to be back because we still have to make America great again .
`` I 'll be back .
I think I 'll be back soon and I look forward to finishing up the campaign the way it was started . ''
The four-minute video comes after a day of contradictory messages from his staff and medical team about his health since being diagnosed with the virus on Thursday night .
The medical team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about returning to the White House but minutes later his chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters that his vital signs during the previous 24 hours had been `` very concerning '' .
The 74-year-old is considered to be at higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus due to his age , the outcome of his recent physical tests , and the fact that he is obese .
In the video , Mr Trump said : `` Over the next period of a few days , I guess that 's the real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happens over those next couple of days . ''
The president 's physician said he has been put on a five-day course of remdesivir - an antiviral drug originally created to treat Ebola .
He was given another experimental treatment - an antibody drug developed by Regeneron - before he was flown to hospital by military helicopter on Friday .
Speaking about the scientific advances regarding the disease , Mr Trump said on Saturday evening : `` We have things happening that look like they 're miracles coming down from God .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital `` for the incredible job they 've been doing '' , as well as the general public and world leaders for their support .
He added : `` I had no choice because I just did n't want to stay in the White House .
I was given that offer - to stay in the White House , lock yourself in , do n't ever leave , do n't even go to the Oval Office , just stay upstairs and enjoy it , do n't see people , do n't talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I ca n't do that .
I had to be out front .
`` This is America , this is the United States , this is the greatest country in the world , this is the most powerful country in the world - I ca n't be locked up in a room upstairs and totally safe and just say 'hey , whatever happens happens ' .
I ca n't do that .
`` We have to confront problems , as a leader you have to confront problems .
There 's never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done that . ''

Donald Trump has said he is starting to feel "much better" but the next few days will be "the real test" of his treatment for COVID-19.
In a video posted during his stay in hospital near Washington DC, the US president said on Saturday that he was "starting to feel good" and was looking forward to "finishing up the (election) campaign the way it was started".
Speaking from his room at Walter Reed Military Hospital in Maryland, a tired-looking Mr Trump said: "I came here, wasn't feeling so well, I feel much better now.
Image: The White House released a photo of Donald Trump at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
"We are working hard to get me all the way back. I have to be back because we still have to make America great again.
"I'll be back. I think I'll be back soon and I look forward to finishing up the campaign the way it was started."
He added: "Over the next period of a few days, I guess that's the real test, so we'll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days."
The four-minute video comes after a day of contradictory messages from his staff and medical team about his health since being diagnosed with the virus on Thursday night.
The medical team said he was improving and was already talking about returning to the White House, but minutes later his chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters that his vital signs during the previous 24 hours had been "very concerning".
In a Saturday night update, his doctor Sean Conley said the president is "not yet out of the woods" but his team are "cautiously optimistic".
Image: Dr Sean Conley gave an update on Mr Trump's health on Saturday
Mr Trump is said to be free of fever and improving, having made "substantial progress" since his diagnosis.
"He spent much of the afternoon conducting business, and has been up and moving about the medical suite without difficulty," Dr Conley said.
The 74-year-old is considered to be at higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus due to his age, the outcome of his recent physical tests, and the fact that he is obese.
The president's physician said he has been put on a five-day course of remdesivir - an antiviral drug originally created to treat Ebola.
He was given another experimental treatment - an antibody drug developed by Regeneron - before he was flown to hospital by military helicopter on Friday.
Speaking about the scientific advances regarding the disease, Mr Trump said in the video: "We have things happening that look like they're miracles coming down from God."
He thanked the staff at the hospital "for the incredible job they've been doing", as well as the general public and world leaders for their support.
Image: It is thought some of the recent COVID infections in the White House could be due to a Rose Garden event where guests sat close to each other and many did not wear masks
He added: "I had no choice because I just didn't want to stay in the White House. I was given that offer - to stay in the White House, lock yourself in, don't ever leave, don't even go to the Oval Office, just stay upstairs and enjoy it, don't see people, don't talk to people and just be done with it.
"I can't do that. I had to be out front.
"This is America, this is the United States, this is the greatest country in the world, this is the most powerful country in the world - I can't be locked up in a room upstairs and totally safe and just say 'hey, whatever happens happens'. I can't do that.
"We have to confront problems, as a leader you have to confront problems. There's never been a great leader that would have done that."


skynewsus--2020-10-03--Confusion at Trump diagnosis as it emerges vital signs 'concerning' before hospital admission

Confusion has emerged over when Donald Trump was diagnosed with coronavirus after it was revealed the president 's vital signs were `` very concerning '' before he was admitted to hospital .
A person `` familiar with the president 's condition '' told Associated Press that he was given supplemental oxygen at the White House before he was flown to hospital on Friday .
Questions are also being raised about when Mr Trump , 74 , developed coronavirus symptoms and whether he should have continued on the campaign trail this week .
Latest coronavirus updates from UK and around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reed Medical Center on Saturday , his physician Dr Sean Conley said he was `` 72 hours into his diagnosis '' .
But he later clarified his statement , revealing he had made a mistake .
In a memo sent afterwards , he said : `` This morning while summarising the president 's health , I incorrectly used the term 'seventy two hours ' instead of 'day three ' and 'forty eight hours ' instead of 'day two ' with regards to his diagnosis and the administration of the polyclonal antibody therapy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 on the evening of Thursday 1 October and had received Regeneron 's antibody cocktail on Friday 2 October . ''
Here is a timeline of the president 's movements before and after he was diagnosed : • Tuesday - travels to Cleveland , Ohio for first TV debate with Joe Biden • Wednesday - travels to Minnesota , Minneapolis for a fundraiser and then to Duluth for a rally , aide Hope Hicks feels ill on plane home and is quarantined • Thursday - With Ms Hicks quarantining , travels to Bedminster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealing he is self-isolating after his aide tested positive • Friday - tweets to confirm he and Melania have tested positive , but records video saying he is `` doing well '' • Friday evening - sources say he needed supplemental oxygen at the White House and he is flown by military helicopter to Walter Reed Medical Center • Saturday - Source close to president says they were `` very concerned '' about his vital signs and next 48 hours are crucial , before his physician Dr Sean Conley says he is `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have been symptomatic since Wednesday White House doctors said the president began exhibiting `` clinical indications '' of COVID-19 on Thursday afternoon , earlier than previously known .
Mr Trump travelled to a rally in Minneapolis on Wednesday and a fundraiser in New Jersey on Thursday , seemingly unaware he may have been infected .
Previously , there was no suggestion Mr Trump thought he was infected before his aide Hope Hicks was diagnosed on Thursday .
In the statement outside the hospital , Dr Conley said although Mr Trump has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congestion and fatigue - he is improving .
`` This morning , the president is doing very well , '' he added .
He said he has been `` fever free for 24 hours '' and that his heart , liver and kidney functions are all `` normal '' .
Dr Conley said Mr Trump is currently not on oxygen and is having no difficulty breathing .
The president 's physician said he has been put on a five-day course of remdesivir - an antiviral drug originally created to treat Ebola .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antibody drug developed by Regeneron - before he was flown to hospital by military helicopter on Friday .
Dr Conley said his medical team `` remain cautiously optimistic '' about the president 's health and that he told them as they completed their rounds this morning : `` I feel like I could walk out of here today . ''
His doctor added : `` It should be clear he 's got plenty of work to get done from the chief of staff - and he 's doing it . ''
Mr Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of serious complications from coronavirus based on his age , the outcome of his recent physical tests , and the fact that he categorised as obese .
His medical team say they will monitor him closely for any complications from either the virus itself or the drugs he is being given .
Between a week and 10 days into having COVID-19 , it can cause patients extreme inflammatory symptoms , with the president 's doctors saying they are `` really concerned '' about how he will fare during that phase of the illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted : `` Doctors , Nurses and ALL at the GREAT Walter Reed Medical Center , and others from likewise incredible institutions who have joined them , are AMAZING !
!
!
Tremendous progress has been made over the last 6 months in fighting this PLAGUE .
With their help , I am feeling well ! ''
He added : `` OUR GREAT USA WANTS & NEEDS STIMULUS .
WORK TOGETHER AND GET IT DONE .
Thank you ! ''
Late on Saturday he released a video thanking medical staff and the general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` a beautiful thing to see '' .
His opponent in the presidential race , Joe Biden , refused to criticise Mr Trump when he took part in a town hall event on Saturday while he was sick , after he was asked a question about PPE .
But , after saying he and his wife Jill were praying for the president and his wife 's full recovery , he reiterated his call for the mandatory wearing of face coverings on public transport and call for all Americans to wear them when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president announced that he and his wife Melania had tested positive for coronavirus in a tweet in the early hours of Friday morning .
Soon after Marine One left the White House on Friday , he posted a video on Twitter that said : `` I think I 'm doing very well but we 're going to make sure that things work out , the First Lady is doing very well , so thank you very much I appreciate it , I will never forget it . ''
The White House said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the military hospital was `` out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts '' .
At least seven people who attended an event at the White House last week have also tested positive for COVID-19 - after guests were seen hugging , fist-bumping and not wearing masks .
Overall , a number of Mr Trump 's aides and allies have fallen ill with coronavirus - including Hope Hicks , one of the president 's closest confidantes .
In other developments , Vice President Mike Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be taking Mr Trump 's place at a Make America Great Again event in Arizona .
Sky News correspondent Sally Lockwood , who is outside the hospital where the president is being treated , said : `` Mr Pence 's event on Thursday could raise eyebrows .
`` But these campaign rallies have been hugely controversial in the midst of a pandemic - with people closely packed together , no social distancing , and many people not wearing face masks . ''

Confusion has emerged over when Donald Trump was diagnosed with coronavirus after it was revealed the president's vital signs were "very concerning" before he was admitted to hospital.
A person "familiar with the president's condition" told Associated Press that he was given supplemental oxygen at the White House before he was flown to hospital on Friday.
Questions are also being raised about when Mr Trump, 74, developed coronavirus symptoms and whether he should have continued on the campaign trail this week.
Latest coronavirus updates from UK and around the world
Image: Dr Sean Conley and his team outside the Walter Reed Medical Center on Saturday
Speaking to reporters outside the Walter Reed Medical Center on Saturday, his physician Dr Sean Conley said he was "72 hours into his diagnosis".
But he later clarified his statement, revealing he had made a mistake.
In a memo sent afterwards, he said: "This morning while summarising the president's health, I incorrectly used the term 'seventy two hours' instead of 'day three' and 'forty eight hours' instead of 'day two' with regards to his diagnosis and the administration of the polyclonal antibody therapy.
"The president was first diagnosed with COVID-19 on the evening of Thursday 1 October and had received Regeneron's antibody cocktail on Friday 2 October."
Here is a timeline of the president's movements before and after he was diagnosed:
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Tuesday - travels to Cleveland, Ohio for first TV debate with Joe Biden
- travels to Cleveland, Ohio for first TV debate with Joe Biden Wednesday - travels to Minnesota, Minneapolis for a fundraiser and then to Duluth for a rally, aide Hope Hicks feels ill on plane home and is quarantined
- travels to Minnesota, Minneapolis for a fundraiser and then to Duluth for a rally, aide Hope Hicks feels ill on plane home and is quarantined Thursday - With Ms Hicks quarantining, travels to Bedminster New Jersey for a fundraiser, before revealing he is self-isolating after his aide tested positive
- With Ms Hicks quarantining, travels to Bedminster New Jersey for a fundraiser, before revealing he is self-isolating after his aide tested positive Friday - tweets to confirm he and Melania have tested positive, but records video saying he is "doing well"
- tweets to confirm he and Melania have tested positive, but records video saying he is "doing well" Friday evening - sources say he needed supplemental oxygen at the White House and he is flown by military helicopter to Walter Reed Medical Center
- sources say he needed supplemental oxygen at the White House and he is flown by military helicopter to Walter Reed Medical Center Saturday - Source close to president says they were "very concerned" about his vital signs and next 48 hours are crucial, before his physician Dr Sean Conley says he is "in good spirits" but suggests he may have been symptomatic since Wednesday
White House doctors said the president began exhibiting "clinical indications" of COVID-19 on Thursday afternoon, earlier than previously known.
Mr Trump travelled to a rally in Minneapolis on Wednesday and a fundraiser in New Jersey on Thursday, seemingly unaware he may have been infected.
Previously, there was no suggestion Mr Trump thought he was infected before his aide Hope Hicks was diagnosed on Thursday.
Image: Donald Trump arrives at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday
In the statement outside the hospital, Dr Conley said although Mr Trump has been suffering from a mild cough, nasal congestion and fatigue - he is improving.
"This morning, the president is doing very well," he added.
He said he has been "fever free for 24 hours" and that his heart, liver and kidney functions are all "normal".
Dr Conley said Mr Trump is currently not on oxygen and is having no difficulty breathing.
The president's physician said he has been put on a five-day course of remdesivir - an antiviral drug originally created to treat Ebola.
He was given another experimental treatment - an antibody drug developed by Regeneron - before he was flown to hospital by military helicopter on Friday.
Dr Conley said his medical team "remain cautiously optimistic" about the president's health and that he told them as they completed their rounds this morning: "I feel like I could walk out of here today."
His doctor added: "It should be clear he's got plenty of work to get done from the chief of staff - and he's doing it."
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Mr Trump is considered to be at higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus based on his age, the outcome of his recent physical tests, and the fact that he categorised as obese.
His medical team say they will monitor him closely for any complications from either the virus itself or the drugs he is being given.
Between a week and 10 days into having COVID-19, it can cause patients extreme inflammatory symptoms, with the president's doctors saying they are "really concerned" about how he will fare during that phase of the illness.
But on Saturday, Mr Trump tweeted: "Doctors, Nurses and ALL at the GREAT Walter Reed Medical Center, and others from likewise incredible institutions who have joined them, are AMAZING!!!Tremendous progress has been made over the last 6 months in fighting this PLAGUE. With their help, I am feeling well!"
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:38 Trump: 'I think I'm doing very well'
He added: "OUR GREAT USA WANTS & NEEDS STIMULUS. WORK TOGETHER AND GET IT DONE. Thank you!"
Late on Saturday he released a video thanking medical staff and the general public for their support, saying it was "a beautiful thing to see".
His opponent in the presidential race, Joe Biden, refused to criticise Mr Trump when he took part in a town hall event on Saturday while he was sick, after he was asked a question about PPE.
But, after saying he and his wife Jill were praying for the president and his wife's full recovery, he reiterated his call for the mandatory wearing of face coverings on public transport and call for all Americans to wear them when in close company outside the home.
The president announced that he and his wife Melania had tested positive for coronavirus in a tweet in the early hours of Friday morning.
Soon after Marine One left the White House on Friday, he posted a video on Twitter that said: "I think I'm doing very well but we're going to make sure that things work out, the First Lady is doing very well, so thank you very much I appreciate it, I will never forget it."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:42 Conway shakes hands days before positive test
The White House said the decision to take Mr Trump to the military hospital was "out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts".
At least seven people who attended an event at the White House last week have also tested positive for COVID-19 - after guests were seen hugging, fist-bumping and not wearing masks.
Overall, a number of Mr Trump's aides and allies have fallen ill with coronavirus - including Hope Hicks, one of the president's closest confidantes.
In other developments, Vice President Mike Pence - who has tested negative - will be taking Mr Trump's place at a Make America Great Again event in Arizona.
Sky News correspondent Sally Lockwood, who is outside the hospital where the president is being treated, said: "Mr Pence's event on Thursday could raise eyebrows.
"But these campaign rallies have been hugely controversial in the midst of a pandemic - with people closely packed together, no social distancing, and many people not wearing face masks."


skynewsus--2020-10-04--Trump says he is 'starting to feel good' but next few days will be the 'real test'

Donald Trump has said he is starting to feel `` much better '' but the next few days will be `` the real test '' of his treatment for COVID-19 .
In a video posted during his stay in hospital near Washington DC , the US president said on Saturday that he was `` starting to feel good '' and was looking forward to `` finishing up the ( election ) campaign the way it was started '' .
Speaking from his room at Walter Reed Military Hospital in Maryland , a tired-looking Mr Trump said : `` I came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I feel much better now .
`` We are working hard to get me all the way back .
I have to be back because we still have to make America great again .
`` I 'll be back .
I think I 'll be back soon and I look forward to finishing up the campaign the way it was started . ''
He added : `` Over the next period of a few days , I guess that 's the real test , so we 'll be seeing what happens over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The four-minute video comes after a day of contradictory messages from his staff and medical team about his health since being diagnosed with the virus on Thursday night .
The medical team said he was improving and was already talking about returning to the White House , but minutes later his chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters that his vital signs during the previous 24 hours had been `` very concerning '' .
In a Saturday night update , his doctor Sean Conley said the president is `` not yet out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` cautiously optimistic '' .
Mr Trump is said to be free of fever and improving , having made `` substantial progress '' since his diagnosis .
`` He spent much of the afternoon conducting business , and has been up and moving about the medical suite without difficulty , '' Dr Conley said .
The 74-year-old is considered to be at higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus due to his age , the outcome of his recent physical tests , and the fact that he is obese .
The president 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a five-day course of remdesivir - an antiviral drug originally created to treat Ebola .
He was given another experimental treatment - an antibody drug developed by Regeneron - before he was flown to hospital by military helicopter on Friday .
Speaking about the scientific advances regarding the disease , Mr Trump said in the video : `` We have things happening that look like they 're miracles coming down from God . ''
He thanked the staff at the hospital `` for the incredible job they 've been doing '' , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders for their support .
He added : `` I had no choice because I just did n't want to stay in the White House .
I was given that offer - to stay in the White House , lock yourself in , do n't ever leave , do n't even go to the Oval Office , just stay upstairs and enjoy it , do n't see people , do n't talk to people and just be done with it .
`` I ca n't do that .
I had to be out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is the United States , this is the greatest country in the world , this is the most powerful country in the world - I ca n't be locked up in a room upstairs and totally safe and just say 'hey , whatever happens happens ' .
I ca n't do that .
`` We have to confront problems , as a leader you have to confront problems .
There 's never been a great leader that would have done that . ''


skynewsus--2020-10-04--Trump 'not yet out of the woods' but medical team 'cautiously optimistic'

US President Donald Trump is `` not yet out of the woods '' but those treating him remain `` cautiously optimistic '' .
Mr Trump was diagnosed with the coronavirus on Thursday evening and was taken to hospital a day later .
In a Saturday night update , his physician Dr Sean Conley said the president is free of fever and improving , adding that he had continued to `` do well '' , having made `` substantial progress '' since his diagnosis .
`` He spent much of the afternoon conducting business , and has been up and moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` While not yet out of the woods , the team remains cautiously optimistic , '' Dr Conley said .
`` The plan for tomorrow is to continue observation in between doses of remdesivir , closely monitoring his clinical status while fully supporting his conduct of presidential duties . ''
: : Subscribe to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker The president 's physician said he has been put on a five-day course of remdesivir - an antiviral drug originally created to treat Ebola .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antibody drug developed by Regeneron - before he was flown to hospital by military helicopter on Friday .
The update came a few hours after Mr Trump posted a four-minute video on his Twitter page , saying he was `` starting to feel good '' .
It was the second video message from Mr Trump since his diagnosis .
Earlier on Saturday , messages from the president 's staff and medical team regarding his health appeared contradictory .
The medical team said he was improving and was already talking about returning to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staff Mark Meadows told reporters that his vital signs during the previous 24 hours had been `` very concerning '' .
Mr Meadows later stepped back from his comments .
Mr Trump , 74 , is considered to be at higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus due to his age , the outcome of his recent physical tests , and the fact that he is obese .
Meanwhile , questions are being asked about the timeline of Mr Trump 's illness , after White House doctors said he began exhibiting `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon , earlier than previously thought .
There had been no suggestion Mr Trump thought he was infected before his aide Hope Hicks was diagnosed on Thursday morning .
Mr Trump travelled to a fundraiser in New Jersey later on Thursday , seemingly unaware he may have been infected .
At least seven people who attended a White House event on Saturday 26 September have also tested positive for COVID-19 - after guests were seen hugging , fist-bumping and not wearing masks .
They are among a number of Mr Trump 's aides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus in recent days .

US President Donald Trump is "not yet out of the woods" but those treating him remain "cautiously optimistic".
Mr Trump was diagnosed with the coronavirus on Thursday evening and was taken to hospital a day later.
In a Saturday night update, his physician Dr Sean Conley said the president is free of fever and improving, adding that he had continued to "do well", having made "substantial progress" since his diagnosis.
Image: Trump supporters are waiting outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where the president is being treated for coronavirus
"He spent much of the afternoon conducting business, and has been up and moving about the medical suite without difficulty.
"While not yet out of the woods, the team remains cautiously optimistic," Dr Conley said.
"The plan for tomorrow is to continue observation in between doses of remdesivir, closely monitoring his clinical status while fully supporting his conduct of presidential duties."
:: Subscribe to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
The president's physician said he has been put on a five-day course of remdesivir - an antiviral drug originally created to treat Ebola.
He was given another experimental treatment - an antibody drug developed by Regeneron - before he was flown to hospital by military helicopter on Friday.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:02 Trump: Next few days will be the 'real test'
The update came a few hours after Mr Trump posted a four-minute video on his Twitter page, saying he was "starting to feel good". It was the second video message from Mr Trump since his diagnosis.
Earlier on Saturday, messages from the president's staff and medical team regarding his health appeared contradictory.
The medical team said he was improving and was already talking about returning to the White House but minutes later his chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters that his vital signs during the previous 24 hours had been "very concerning". Mr Meadows later stepped back from his comments.
Mr Trump, 74, is considered to be at higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus due to his age, the outcome of his recent physical tests, and the fact that he is obese.
Meanwhile, questions are being asked about the timeline of Mr Trump's illness, after White House doctors said he began exhibiting "clinical indications" of COVID-19 on Thursday afternoon, earlier than previously thought.
There had been no suggestion Mr Trump thought he was infected before his aide Hope Hicks was diagnosed on Thursday morning.
Mr Trump travelled to a fundraiser in New Jersey later on Thursday, seemingly unaware he may have been infected.
At least seven people who attended a White House event on Saturday 26 September have also tested positive for COVID-19 - after guests were seen hugging, fist-bumping and not wearing masks.
They are among a number of Mr Trump's aides and allies who have fallen ill with coronavirus in recent days.


skynewsus--2020-10-04--'Optimistic, confusion and karmic irony' - How the US media is reporting Trump's COVID diagnosis

Donald Trump 's COVID-19 diagnosis features heavily in the US media , with many focusing on the confusing messages from the White House as they offer up analysis of what this means for the election .
Sky News looks at what the newspapers and TV channels in the US are saying about the president 's situation .
Often on Mr Trump 's hit list , the paper says there is `` confusion and concern '' over the president 's health .
It says there have been conflicting accounts from his doctor , who said he is `` improving '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his symptoms `` very concerning '' .
The president is said to have been `` infuriated '' by the latter comments but his video message did little to quell uncertainty , The New York Times said .
The paper also carries an opinion piece saying Mr Trump 's illness `` is yet another dividing line in the Trump era '' .
It says a sick leader would usually see people from all over the political spectrum rallying behind them , but Mr Trump has made the pandemic so political that his illness has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the `` confusing and incomplete answers '' about the president 's health from the White House .
It also says the White House is showing `` little effort '' to contact trace the hundreds of people potentially exposed to the president before his coronavirus diagnosis .
Local officials from areas he held events in the days leading up to his positive test have not heard from the White House , it reports .
The paper also carries quotes from some Republicans saying the party will pay the price for the `` stupid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it observes that Mr Trump 's supporters have not changed their stance on the virus as hundreds of maskless supporters gathered for rallies across the country on Saturday .
`` The president 's many arguments about the coronavirus ... seemed to inoculate many in the Trump camp against rethinking their approach to the virus , '' it said .
The daily 's lead story highlights `` a day of conflicting messages '' over the president 's condition .
It also looks at two other conservative leaders who have had COVID-19 : Boris Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper says they both made light of COVID-19 risks before falling ill themselves - but were left `` unscathed politically '' and it boosted them in the short-term .
However , it points out that neither of them was facing an election within a month of getting sick .
NBC leads on a more neutral front , as the channel carries Mr Trump 's video telling the nation he is feeling better .
It does pick up on the White House chief of staff 's contrasting comments with the president 's doctor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can sue the president as they attended his fundraising event in New Jersey after he found out close aide Hope Hicks tested positive .
`` Probably not '' , is the conclusion .
NBC also explores whether Mr Trump getting COVID-19 will be a turning point in a nation fatigued by the pandemic and its restrictions .
Mr Trump 's least favourite news channel ( `` Not you , fake news '' ) says his `` alternate reality of COVID-19 crumbles '' .
It takes aim at recent events held by the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a textbook example of how not to handle a deadly virus '' .
The channel focuses on the confusing statements over the president 's health .
CNN 's senior political analyst John Avlon says it is a `` karmic irony '' that the Trump campaign `` deployed the politics of sickness '' against Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton .
And its senior digital producer in Hong Kong , James Griffiths , said China is nervous about Mr Trump 's diagnosis over fears the president will now take an even harder line on China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president 's favourite news channel has a more upbeat theme as it concentrates on the president saying he 's feeling `` much better '' , and his chief of staff Mark Meadows saying he is `` very optimistic based on the current results '' .
It reports that the Trump election campaign is keeping at `` full speed '' .
And it says debates are continuing and the delayed return of the Senate due to a handful of Republican senators testing positive will not slow down the confirmation hearings for Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy Coney Barrett .
Fox also reports that Mr Trump 's supporters lined up in front of the hospital where the president is staying to pray for him last night .
The comedy sketch show was not going to miss out on the president 's positive diagnosis , with host Chris Rock joking : `` My heart goes out to COVID . ''
Alec Baldwin , playing Mr Trump , referenced the Rose Garden event held to announce the nomination of Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court , after which several people tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to welcome her with open arms and uncovered faces , '' Baldwin quipped .
: : Subscribe to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker As part of a sketch mimicking the first presidential debate earlier in the week , Baldwin as Mr Trump said : `` I 've got my mask right here '' as he pulled out a pink thong .
And when asked to stop pointing a laser pointer at Joe Biden , played by Jim Carrey , Baldwin said : `` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wand that cures the COVID . ''

Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis features heavily in the US media, with many focusing on the confusing messages from the White House as they offer up analysis of what this means for the election.
Sky News looks at what the newspapers and TV channels in the US are saying about the president's situation.
The New York Times
Often on Mr Trump's hit list, the paper says there is "confusion and concern" over the president's health.
It says there have been conflicting accounts from his doctor, who said he is "improving", and his chief of staff who called his symptoms "very concerning".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:02 'I think I will be back soon' - Trump
The president is said to have been "infuriated" by the latter comments but his video message did little to quell uncertainty, The New York Times said.
The paper also carries an opinion piece saying Mr Trump's illness "is yet another dividing line in the Trump era".
It says a sick leader would usually see people from all over the political spectrum rallying behind them, but Mr Trump has made the pandemic so political that his illness has created further divisions.
Image: Mr Trump was flown to Walter Reed Military Hospital by helicopter on Friday night
The Washington Post
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The paper leads on the "confusing and incomplete answers" about the president's health from the White House.
It also says the White House is showing "little effort" to contact trace the hundreds of people potentially exposed to the president before his coronavirus diagnosis.
Local officials from areas he held events in the days leading up to his positive test have not heard from the White House, it reports.
Image: The White House is investigating whether an event in the Rose Garden was a superspreader event
The paper also carries quotes from some Republicans saying the party will pay the price for the "stupid" approach to the pandemic.
And it observes that Mr Trump's supporters have not changed their stance on the virus as hundreds of maskless supporters gathered for rallies across the country on Saturday.
"The president's many arguments about the coronavirus... seemed to inoculate many in the Trump camp against rethinking their approach to the virus," it said.
The Wall Street Journal
The daily's lead story highlights "a day of conflicting messages" over the president's condition.
It also looks at two other conservative leaders who have had COVID-19: Boris Johnson and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro.
The newspaper says they both made light of COVID-19 risks before falling ill themselves - but were left "unscathed politically" and it boosted them in the short-term.
However, it points out that neither of them was facing an election within a month of getting sick.
NBC News
NBC leads on a more neutral front, as the channel carries Mr Trump's video telling the nation he is feeling better.
It does pick up on the White House chief of staff's contrasting comments with the president's doctor.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:03 'The president is doing very well'
And an opinion piece explores whether donors can sue the president as they attended his fundraising event in New Jersey after he found out close aide Hope Hicks tested positive. "Probably not", is the conclusion.
NBC also explores whether Mr Trump getting COVID-19 will be a turning point in a nation fatigued by the pandemic and its restrictions.
CNN
Mr Trump's least favourite news channel ("Not you, fake news") says his "alternate reality of COVID-19 crumbles".
It takes aim at recent events held by the White House, saying they "serve as a textbook example of how not to handle a deadly virus".
The channel focuses on the confusing statements over the president's health.
Image: Most US media said the messaging from Mr Trump's doctor and the White House was confusing
CNN's senior political analyst John Avlon says it is a "karmic irony" that the Trump campaign "deployed the politics of sickness" against Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.
And its senior digital producer in Hong Kong, James Griffiths, said China is nervous about Mr Trump's diagnosis over fears the president will now take an even harder line on China, who he blames for the pandemic.
Fox News
The president's favourite news channel has a more upbeat theme as it concentrates on the president saying he's feeling "much better", and his chief of staff Mark Meadows saying he is "very optimistic based on the current results".
It reports that the Trump election campaign is keeping at "full speed".
Image: Some of Mr Trump's supporters gathered outside the hospital in Maryland where the president is
And it says debates are continuing and the delayed return of the Senate due to a handful of Republican senators testing positive will not slow down the confirmation hearings for Mr Trump's Supreme Court choice, Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Fox also reports that Mr Trump's supporters lined up in front of the hospital where the president is staying to pray for him last night.
Saturday Night Live
The comedy sketch show was not going to miss out on the president's positive diagnosis, with host Chris Rock joking: "My heart goes out to COVID."
Alec Baldwin, playing Mr Trump, referenced the Rose Garden event held to announce the nomination of Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court, after which several people tested positive.
"It was so nice to welcome her with open arms and uncovered faces," Baldwin quipped.
:: Subscribe to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
As part of a sketch mimicking the first presidential debate earlier in the week, Baldwin as Mr Trump said: "I've got my mask right here" as he pulled out a pink thong.
And when asked to stop pointing a laser pointer at Joe Biden, played by Jim Carrey, Baldwin said: "It's not a laser point. It's a wand that cures the COVID."


skynewsus--2020-10-04--White House has not been 'open at all' about Trump's condition, says ex-UK ambassador to US

The White House has not been `` open at all '' about Donald Trump 's condition as he is treated for coronavirus , a former UK ambassador to the US has told Sky News .
Speaking on the Sophy Ridge on Sunday show , Sir Christopher Meyer said there had been `` conflicting messages '' about the president 's health as he battles COVID-19 .
Mr Trump was diagnosed with coronavirus late on Thursday , revealing the news in a tweet in the early hours of Friday .
Later that day he was moved to Walter Reed Military Hospital in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday , his medical team said he was improving and already talking about returning to the White House , but minutes later his chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters that his vital signs during the previous 24 hours had been `` very concerning '' .
In a Saturday night update , his doctor Sean Conley said the president is `` not yet out of the woods '' but his team are `` cautiously optimistic '' .
And in his latest public comments on his condition , Mr Trump said he is `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking forward to `` finishing up the [ election ] campaign the way it was started '' .
Referencing these statements , Sir Christopher said : `` We had one apparently from the White House itself , Mark Meadows , to the White House pool of reporters which was much more pessimistic than anything Donald Trump has said or even his personal doctor .
`` So there is a good deal of scepticism about what his private doctor is saying and what Trump himself is saying . ''
He added : `` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given which is flagrant even by Trump 's standards , that the reason he went to hospital and did n't stay in the White House was one of joining the American people and share their suffering and show leadership .
`` This is rubbish , the reason he is in hospital is because he needs to for medical reasons . ''
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he is sure that Mr Trump is `` going to be fine '' , telling the BBC 's Andrew Marr Show that the president is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This was echoed by Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage , who said he had spoken to the Trump family and thinks the president will recover .
`` He does n't drink , does n't smoke , he 's carrying a few extra pounds but he is generally in pretty robust health , so my guess would be he 's going to be okay , '' Mr Farage told Ridge .
The former UKIP leader and MEP , who was the first British politician to meet Mr Trump after he won the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is `` bad for his campaign '' .
`` It 's bad because it puts COVID at the centre , it 's bad because the accusations are that he was too lackadaisical , and it 's bad because he ca n't come out and do what he 's good at which is rallies , campaigning , inspiring the troops , which really he is brilliant at so at the minute , it 's bad , '' he said .
But he said it would be wrong to write off the president 's chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting fit '' in a couple of weeks .
`` It 's very easy for commentators to write off Donald Trump .
He disproved everybody in 2016 .
This is not over . ''
Sir Christopher said recovering from the virus could be a `` potent message '' that helps Mr Trump win the election .
`` He is a past master at taking advantage and turning situations that might look disadvantageous to him and turning them to his advantage , and I can see him coming out all Trump-like and saying ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .

The White House has not been "open at all" about Donald Trump's condition as he is treated for coronavirus, a former UK ambassador to the US has told Sky News.
Speaking on the Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, Sir Christopher Meyer said there had been "conflicting messages" about the president's health as he battles COVID-19.
Mr Trump was diagnosed with coronavirus late on Thursday, revealing the news in a tweet in the early hours of Friday.
Image: Sir Christopher Meyer was UK ambassador to the US from 1997 to 2003
Later that day he was moved to Walter Reed Military Hospital in Maryland, where he remains.
On Saturday, his medical team said he was improving and already talking about returning to the White House, but minutes later his chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters that his vital signs during the previous 24 hours had been "very concerning".
In a Saturday night update, his doctor Sean Conley said the president is "not yet out of the woods" but his team are "cautiously optimistic".
And in his latest public comments on his condition, Mr Trump said he is "starting to feel good" and is looking forward to "finishing up the [election] campaign the way it was started".
Referencing these statements, Sir Christopher said: "We had one apparently from the White House itself, Mark Meadows, to the White House pool of reporters which was much more pessimistic than anything Donald Trump has said or even his personal doctor.
"So there is a good deal of scepticism about what his private doctor is saying and what Trump himself is saying."
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:04 Mixed messages over Trump's health
He added: "I am astonished at the reason he has given which is flagrant even by Trump's standards, that the reason he went to hospital and didn't stay in the White House was one of joining the American people and share their suffering and show leadership.
"This is rubbish, the reason he is in hospital is because he needs to for medical reasons."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he is sure that Mr Trump is "going to be fine", telling the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that the president is being given the "best possible care".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:02 Trump says he is 'starting to feel good'
This was echoed by Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who said he had spoken to the Trump family and thinks the president will recover.
"He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, he's carrying a few extra pounds but he is generally in pretty robust health, so my guess would be he's going to be okay," Mr Farage told Ridge.
The former UKIP leader and MEP, who was the first British politician to meet Mr Trump after he won the 2016 presidential election, said his COVID-19 diagnosis is "bad for his campaign".
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:: Subscribe to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
"It's bad because it puts COVID at the centre, it's bad because the accusations are that he was too lackadaisical, and it's bad because he can't come out and do what he's good at which is rallies, campaigning, inspiring the troops, which really he is brilliant at so at the minute, it's bad," he said.
But he said it would be wrong to write off the president's chances of re-election if he is back "fighting fit" in a couple of weeks.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:05 Farage says he thinks Trump will be OK
"It's very easy for commentators to write off Donald Trump. He disproved everybody in 2016. This is not over."
Sir Christopher said recovering from the virus could be a "potent message" that helps Mr Trump win the election.
"He is a past master at taking advantage and turning situations that might look disadvantageous to him and turning them to his advantage, and I can see him coming out all Trump-like and saying 'I met coronavirus and I won'," he said.