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The White House has confirmed that Mark Meadows, the incoming chief of staff, has self-quarantined after interacting with confirmed COVID-19 patients. During the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington DC in February, Meadows interacted with at least one confirmed patient with the novel coronavirus. However, Trump, who also attended CPAC, has not been tested for the virus.
Mark Meadows has been tested for the virus and was found to have tested negative. Additionally, he has no symptoms. However, out of an abundance of caution, he’s staying self-quarantined until Wednesday, the official two-week mark after he left CPAC. Trump, a notorious germaphobe, has privately told staffers that he is terrified of contracting the coronavirus.
Trump attended CPAC in February, as did Vice President Mike Pence and Republican Represenative Doug Collins and Representative Matt Gaetz. Collins and Gaetz have both self-quarantined after interacting with the individual confirmed to be carrying COVID-19. Neither have been shown to have any symptoms, but both interacted with Trump during and after the conference.
Other Republicans, like Ted Cruz, Paul Gosar and Matt Schlapp have all self-quarantined following the event. Schlapp, CPAC’s chairman, even shook Trump’s hand during the event’s closing remarks. This means that it is possible that Trump’s fears could have been realized: he may have contracted the virus from the event. If so, he’ll need more than a bit of mild flu symptom relief: the disease is significantly more dangerous in people over 65.
According to anonymous reports from the White House have surfaced. Staffers have stated that Trump is “paranoid” about the coronavirus. He has floated the fear that a journalist could be “intentionally” infected with the virus and then try to get him sick by interviewing him, or joining him on Air Force One.
The president could postpone or cancel campaign rallies. Trump apparently doesn’t want to.
Other reports say Trump is also privately furious that the virus is causing the stock market to plummet. A notoriously market-focused president, Trump has stated numerous times that he connects stock market performance to success for a president. However, those close to him think that he feels as though the media has stacked the deck against him.
Trump’s messaging is rough. Early on, the administration tried to downplay the virus and make it sound like it wasn’t a problem. As the number of cases in the US steadily climbs, though, the administration’s dismissal is looking more tone-deaf. This is why there is panic in the markets.
