At a press conference on Saturday, outside of Walter Reed Military Hospital, President Donald Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley told the media that President Trump is “very healthy” other than being slightly overweight. “It’s important to note that the President’s been fever free for over 24 hours,” he said. Dr. Conley concluded by saying, “We remain cautiously optimistic, but he’s doing great.”
Only moments after Dr. Conley spoke, however, an anonymous quote was sent to White House pool reporters contradicting the positive report by the White House physician, regarding his condition related to his battle with the Chinese coronavirus.
Cheryl Bolen, White House correspondent for Bloomberg Law shared her report on the update she received on President Trump’s condition from a “source familiar with the president’s health,” who said: “The president’s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery.”
Washington Post and MSNBC reporter, Ashley Parker, shared a screenshot of the WH Pool email from the “external sender,” accusing President Trump of being contagious with COVID “far earlier.” The email also stated that President Trump’s vitals are “v concerning.”
To sum: The President has Covid. His doctor just briefed the press, sharing few specifics, but inadvertently revealed Trump tested positive 72 hrs ago—meaning he was contagious far earlier. And then the pool shared a background analysis—below—saying his vitals are “v concerning.” pic.twitter.com/ENBFg0yqS2
— Ashley Parker (@AshleyRParker) October 3, 2020
The Gateway Pundit reports – Video posted of White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows talking with reporters at Walter Reed after Conley’s briefing shows Meadows saying, “Obviously the cameras are still rolling, so if, if we can go off the record with some of y’all and get away from the cameras. and to turn off cameras…”
UPDATE: Immediately after the press conference ended and before the anonymous statement was sent out, Mark Meadows briefed reporters without cameras—but he was caught on a feed asking to be off the record. pic.twitter.com/JyrhSmu1Y0
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) October 3, 2020
While what was said by Meadows after that was not reported, White House and Washington based reporters have named Meadows as the anonymous source for the quote about Trump’s condition:
For what it's worth, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said this in an "off the record" huddle despite live cameras still rolling.
Meadows then noticed the cameras and asked they be shut off before he'd share more "off the record" stuff. https://t.co/qyYzw9zbmx
— Max Burns (@themaxburns) October 3, 2020
It was Mark Meadows. https://t.co/L3YuRn9tck
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) October 3, 2020
The WH offcial who immediately contradicted the WH doctor after the briefing, prompting that jarring @AP alert:
Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who himself was offering a rosy portrait yesterday.
When he knew he was on camera https://t.co/4HmaUUAOq1
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) October 3, 2020
UPDATE: The AP reports a source tells them Trump was on oxygen at the White House on Friday, “BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — AP source: President Trump was administered supplemental oxygen at the White House on Friday before going to hospital.”
BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — AP source: President Trump was administered supplemental oxygen at the White House on Friday before going to hospital.
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) October 3, 2020
UPDATE: The AP quotes Meadows by name in a new report:
“President Donald Trump went through a “very concerning” period Friday and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care as he battles the coronavirus at a military hospital, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Saturday. The comments came after it was revealed that Trump was administered supplemental oxygen Friday morning at the White House before he was transported to the hospital, although staff insisted he had only mild symptoms.
“We’re still not on a clear path yet to a full recovery,” said a weary Meadows.
It was a dramatically different picture than the one painted by the White House staff since Trump revealed his diagnosis as well as by his doctors, who updated the public at a press conference at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.