Trump news: President’s condition ‘very concerning’ on Friday despite assurances, top aide admits
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There were conflicting reports over the status of President Trump’s health on Saturday after he was hospitalised following his coronavirus diagnosis.
Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters that Mr Trump went through a “very concerning” period on Friday, and said the next 48 hours will “be critical” to his care.
His comments contradicted an earlier assessment of Mr Trump’s health by the president’s doctor, Dr Sean Conley.
Dr Conley, who said Mr Trump was “doing very well", was forced to clarify remarks he made during a press conference on Saturday morning that suggested Mr Trump learned of his diagnosis 72 hours ago.
Had the president been diagnosed on Wednesday, that would mean he attended a fundraiser in Minneapolis, held a rally later that night and flew on Air Force One to attend another fundraiser in New Jersey the next day, all while being infected with the coronavirus that has killed more than 200,000 Americans.
Dr Conley subsequently said that he misspoke and that Mr Trump was three days into his illness.
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Donald Trump is not receiving oxygen and is walking around, his doctors say. He is in good spirits.
“The president has been fever-free for 24 hours,” says Dr Sean Conley.
“Right now all indicators are that he will remain off oxygen going forward”, Dr Conley adds. “At the moment there is no cause for concern”.
Dr Conley says that Donald Trump has never experienced difficulty breathing, but evades the question of whether he has ever been given extra oxygen.
Dr Conley says that he cannot give a timeline on when Trump will be released from hospital - although at the moment the plan is for a stay of five days.
“The First Lady is doing great. She is convalescing at home."
Dr Conley is asked again about whether Donald Trump has received oxygen. He says that he was not given oxygen on Thursday, Friday or today, although he appears cautious about giving an answer.
Questions are now being asked whether Donald Trump was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Wednesday rather than Thursday as previously thought.
Donald Trump’s doctor evades oxygen question
Here’s is the moment where Donald Trump’s doctor Dr Sean Conley appeared to dodge the question of whether the president had received oxygen treatment.
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