President Trump’s positive coronavirus test is raising immediate questions about the spread of the disease given his packed schedule and events with, among others, his nominee to the Supreme Court and his rival for the White House.
Just this week, Trump attended the first presidential debate, held meetings with top aides, spoke at a campaign rally and traveled to a fundraiser.
Depending on when Trump was first exposed, dozens of people may be at risk. Trump has repeatedly downplayed the risks of the virus, and he and his staff often do not wear masks.
The White House says that Trump and those close to him are tested regularly for COVID-19. News broke late Thursday that one of his closest aides, Hope Hicks, had tested positive for the virus. Trump later revealed that he and the first lady tested positive for COVID-19.
Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, tweeted that everyone near the president since Saturday should be tested to try to identify a source, and anyone near him from Tuesday on should quarantine, since Trump might have been infectious then.
Here’s a timeline of Trump’s events from the past week.
Thursday, Sept. 24
Trump delivered a health care speech in Charlotte, N.C., in an airport hanger to about 200 guests, some of whom wore masks. He later traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., to hold a campaign rally. Trump stayed overnight at his resort in Doral in Miami, Fla.
Friday, Sept. 25
Trump participated in a “Latinos for Trump” roundtable indoors at Doral in Miami.
The event had an audience of 150 people, with many in the crowd not wearing masks.
Later, Trump delivered remarks on his Black economic empowerment plan in Atlanta, Ga., to an audience of roughly 200. Most guests were not wearing masks or social distancing.
Later that evening, Trump participated in a closed-door fundraiser in Washington, D.C., and Trump held a rally in Newport News, Va. Hicks was among aides traveling with the president aboard Air Force One on the trip to Virginia.
Saturday, Sept. 26
The president officially nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett as an associate justice for the Supreme Court during a packed event in the Rose Garden where guests were gathered closely together.
Trump stood side-by-side with Barrett and her family, including her seven children. Those in the crowd included Vice President Pence, Attorney General William Barr, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, White House communications director Alyssa Farah, chief of staff to the vice president Marc Short, Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Fox News host Laura Ingraham.
Later, Trump traveled to a rally in Middletown, Pa., where he delivered a speech to upward of 2,000 supporters outside in an airport hanger.
Sunday, Sept. 27
Trump went to his golf course in Virginia and later held a news conference at the White House.
The White House does not typically disclose who the president golfs with. But he was joined in the White House briefing room by press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The latter two had been helping Trump prepare for the presidential debates. Roughly two dozen reporters and photographers were also in the room, wearing masks.
Monday, Sept. 28
Trump delivered a speech on the country’s coronavirus testing strategy to a sizable crowd of administration officials in the Rose Garden.
Among those in attendance were Pence, who tested negative on Friday morning; Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma; coronavirus task force member Brett Giroir; coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R).
Tuesday, Sept. 29
Trump traveled to Cleveland with Hicks and other aides and participated in the first presidential debate against Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
The president was surrounded by aides and advisers on Air Force Once en route to the debate, including McEnany, campaign manager Bill Stepien, campaign adviser Jason Miller, Christie and Giuliani.
Trump’s family also joined him for the debate: Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Eric Trump and Lara Trump were all spotted on the plane and in the debate hall.
The president then stood on stage for nearly two hours in proximity to moderator Chris Wallace and Biden, though the podiums were several feet apart.
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Trump participated in a fundraiser near Minneapolis and held a campaign rally in Duluth, Minn. Hicks traveled with the president on Air Force One and is said to have kept her distance on the return flight after not feeling well.
Other aides who joined for the trip include Kushner, McEnany, Meadows and deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino.
Thursday, Oct. 1
Trump held a fundraiser at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., that was closed to press, hours before news breaks of Hicks’s positive case and those of Trump and the first lady.