Tennessee leaders react to President Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis – Tennessean
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Trump says he tested positive for coronavirus
President Donald Trump said early Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus. (Oct. 2)
People around the world reacted Friday as news spread that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus.
The revelation came after one of Trump’s top aides, Hope Hicks, revealed her own COVID-19 diagnosis. Hicks traveled with the president and several other senior aides recently.
White House officials said Trump was “feeling mild symptoms” on Friday, hours after the announcement. Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence both tested negative.
Democratic nominee Joe Biden also tested negative Friday, after sharing the stage with Trump for the first presidential debate on Tuesday. The announcement put the two remaining presidential debates into question, including one set for Oct. 22 at Belmont University in Nashville.
Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn also said at a conference Friday that she would take a test for COVID-19 after traveling with Trump to the debate.
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Gov. Bill Lee posted a brief statement to Twitter on Friday morning about Trump’s diagnosis.
“.@MariaLeeTN and I are praying for President Trump and First Lady Melania’s swift recovery and for all others affected by this virus,” he tweeted.
Republican United States Senate candidate Bill Hagerty also released a statement, saying he was praying for the president and first lady’s recoveries.
“President Trump and First Lady Trump are in the hands of the best medical doctors in America, and we are most optimistic that they will fully recover from the virus,” Hagerty said in the statement. “I have seen President Trump’s work-ethic firsthand, and I know he will continue to carry out his duties while quarantining. The entire country stands united behind President Trump and First Lady Trump during this time, and we look forward to their full recovery soon.”
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Nashville Mayor John Cooper added to the growing chorus of reactions Friday.
“I am hoping for a speedy and complete recovery for President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, as well as the 939 Nashvillians currently fighting COVID-19, including Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway and our Tennessee Titans,” Cooper posted to Twitter.
USA Today contributed to this report.
Find reporter Rachel Wegner on Twitter at @rachelannwegner or via email at rawegner@tennessean.com.
