Trump Again Downplays Virus as White House Outbreak Spreads

WASHINGTON, KOMPAS.com - US President Donald Trump continues to downplay the Covid-19 virus even as he and his close aides tested positive.

One of the US President’s closest advisers Stephen Miller tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday joining other White House staff.

Trump is said to be making progress in his recovery from the novel virus even tweeting his eagerness to return to the campaign trail.

The coronavirus outbreak has killed over 210,000 Americans and is quickly spreading into the upper echelons of the US government.

Read also: Trump Joins List of World Leaders Diagnosed with the Coronavirus

As Trump convalesced out of sight in the White House on Tuesday, the administration defended the protections it has put in place to protect the staff working there to treat and support him.

Trump again publicly downplayed the virus on Twitter after his return from a three-day hospitalization.

In one significant national coronavirus action, Trump declared there would be no action before the election on economic-stimulus legislation.

His announcement came not long after the Federal Reserve chairman said such help was essential for recovery with the nation reeling from the human and economic cost of the pandemic. Stocks fell on the White House news.

Read also: More Financial Relief for Americans with Trump’s Latest Executive Order

As for Trump's own recovery, his doctor, Navy Cmdr. Sean Conley, said in a letter that the president had a “restful” Monday night at the White House and “reports no symptoms”.

Meanwhile, Trump was grappling with next political steps exactly four weeks from Election Day.

Anxious to project strength, Trump, who is still contagious with the virus, tweeted Tuesday that he was planning to attend next week's debate with Democrat Joe Biden in Miami and "It will be great!”

Biden, for his part, said he and Trump “shouldn’t have a debate” as long as the president remains Covid positive.

Biden told reporters in Pennsylvania that he was “looking forward to being able to debate him” but said “we’re going to have to follow very strict guidelines”.