Trump not yet up for a national address about his coronavirus experience, aide says

Donald Trump still plans to address the country about his coronavirus diagnosis and treatment, but does not yet feel up to it, a White House aide said on Wednesday.

The president has been telling aides since before he returned to the White House on Monday evening that he wants to talk directly to the American people about his experience. There was scuttlebutt he might do so on Tuesday evening, but the White House instead called a lid before 4pm, a signal the president would not be moving outside the executive compound or speaking.

After minutes before saying that the president would only deliver a televised address or return to work from the Oval Office, despite still being contagious and possibly putting aides at risk, a White House spokesman confirmed Mr Trump had returned to the world-famous workspace.

“He wants to speak to the American people and he will do so soon. I don't have an exact time or a definite way he'll do that,” deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern told reporters.

“But, as you've seen, there have been Twitter videos that are [a] pretty easy and effective way for him to get out,” the spokesman added. “That's certainly something that we're always considering as putting out another message to the country that way, but I don't have a different method or time for you at this time.”

Mr Trump and his social media team have worked on such a video, but have not released one since they used one on Monday night to have the president again downplay the virus.

“Don’t let it dominate you. Don’t be afraid of it. You’re gonna beat it. We have the best medical equipment. We have the best medicines, all developed recently,” he said in that video message, recording just inside the executive mansion’s Truman Balcony.

“Nobody that’s a leader would not do what I did. And I know there’s a risk, there’s a danger, but that’s OK,” the president added. “And now I’m better and maybe I’m immune – I don’t know. But don’t let it dominate your lives. Get out there. Be careful.”