WASHINGTON (NewsNation Now) — President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus early Friday morning after news broke Thursday night that Hope Hicks, one of President Donald Trump’s closest aides, tested positive for COVID-19.
President Trump earlier Thursday said he and first lady Melania Trump were waiting for test results and “will begin our quarantine process!”
In an interview on Fox Thursday night, President Trump said they “spend a lot of time” with Hicks.
Hicks, who serves as counselor to the president and traveled with him to a Wednesday rally in Duluth, Minnesota, tested positive Thursday, according to an administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private health information. She is the closest aide to Trump to test positive so far.
Hicks traveled with the president multiple times this week, including on Marine One, the presidential helicopter, for a Minnesota rally Wednesday, and aboard Air Force One to Tuesday night’s first presidential debate.
The White House did not confirm Hicks tested positive in a statement to NewsNation, but said the following:
The President takes the health and safety of himself and everyone who works in support of him and the American people very seriously. White House Operations collaborates with the Physician to the President and the White House Military Office to ensure all plans and procedures incorporate current CDC guidance and best practices for limiting COVID-19 exposure to the greatest extent possible both on complex and when the President is traveling.
White House deputy Press Secretary judd deere
Hicks previously served as White House communications director and re-joined the administration this year ahead of the election.