‘This campaign may never be the same:’ Political expert weighs in on President Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis, political fallout
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It was a striking image: President Donald Trump arriving at Walter Reed Medical Center for treatment of COVID-19.
"What will 2020 look like?" asked University of Minnesota Political Science Professor Larry Jacobs. "The fact that Donald Trump would test positive for the coronavirus is shocking news."
Trump and the first lady, Melania, both tested positive, although she did not go to the hospital.
She did put out a tweet saying she has mild symptoms, but overall, that she’s feeling well.
The president, meanwhile, is expected to stay at Walter Reed for a few days according to White House officials.
The helicopter that will carry President Donald Trump to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., lands on the South Lawn of White House in Washington, Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The White House says Trump will spend a "few days" at the military hospital after contracting COVID-19.[AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite]
Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the matter told ABC News the president is experiencing a low-grade fever, chill, nasal congestion, a cough and fatigue.
Jacobs said the timing of the diagnosis, with an incumbent president down in the polls, is sure to have an impact.
"He needed this last month to close the gap with Joe Biden," he saidys. "Can he do it if he’s also struggling to recover from the coronavirus?"
Among the uncertainties:
- Will there be any more presidential debates?
- Would large rallies, like the one in Duluth this week, even be possible?
The Trump campaign said it will either postpone or hold all their previously scheduled events involving the president in a virtual setting.
Events that include Trump’s family members are also being "temporarily postponed."
Even after Trump is released from the hospital, he still faces a potential quarantine.
"The campaign, in its last 32 days may never be the same," Jacobs declared. "Will the president even have the health to even do remote events beamed from the White House? It’s just a lot of questions and uncertainty today as we take in this shocking news."
During Tuesday’s debate, the president mocked Joe Biden for wearing a mask while campaigning.
Trump did not wear a mask in Duluth.
"Minnesotans have reason to be concerned," Jacobs said. "These events — they have a lot of people there, some of whom were not wearing masks, are being described as super-spreader events."
The Minnesota Department of Health issued warnings about the Duluth events.
"There is a potential risk that transmissions occurred at the Duluth rally and other events associated with President Trump’s visit," MDH’s Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann told reporters Friday.
MDH advises those who attended Trump events in state to get tested, monitor symptoms
She added that state health officials are urging anyone at the event to get tested within the next few days, even if they don’t show symptoms.
"Anyone who was in direct contact with President Trump or known COVID-19 cases needs to get quarantined and should get tested," Ehresmann said. "It is important to understand that quarantine for 14 days is necessary, regardless of test results."
Meanwhile, Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, have tested negative.
The Biden campaign is rolling on.
Joe Biden made appearances in Michigan Friday, and Jill Biden is to appear at several events in the Twin Cities on Saturday.
Jill Biden to visit St. Paul, Minneapolis on Saturday
But one of the big questions is will any of this change who people will vote for?
Conventional wisdom says this late in the campaign, voters have pretty much made up their minds, with Election Day exactly one month from Saturday.
"The big impact of the president’s infection on the campaign is probably not going to help him," Jacobs said. "It’s going to put the spotlight on the concern that so many Americans have, that the coronavirus is out of control, that it is a threat."