# Do you think the public would be told if Trump or Pence tested positive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 8, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430 "2020-05-08T20:53:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/21 "2020-05-08T23:17:06Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You are mistaken. “They wouldn’t tell us if the President had the virus” is just as silly as the other theories that are routinely debunked on this board. Heck, promulgating some of the said “theories” are banned, by the rules. Again, you are using the words “conspiracy theory” to mean something they don’t actually mean. If someone points out an error you are making, doubling down doesn’t prove your point. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/22 "2020-05-08T23:18:36Z")
Whatever Putin tells his puppies, they’ll do. Stay unmasked in public to show they don’t give a shit who lives or dies? Done. Hide or fake an infection for political purposes? Could be done. Totally undermine faith in government action? Pretty much done. Destroy the US as a functioning society? En route. Tromp and Pants are Good Goys! I mean Boys. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/23 "2020-05-08T23:34:35Z")
If it were a mild, asymptomatic Covid case for Trump…maybe. But if the guy is wheezing on a ventilator in a hospital, no way it can be suppressed news. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/24 "2020-05-09T00:45:53Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > I guess they might try, but I think we’d find out. This isn’t North Korea; the president or VP can’t just disappear from public events for two weeks without explanation, and too many people would have to know the real reason for it _not_ to leak out. Right. With Pence it would likely be pretty straightforward, quarantine him at the Observatory, have him do his daily song-of-praise for the boss via Zoom, and report matter of factly about progress. About Don, I agree his instinct would be to demand it not be spoken of and no question about it be answered as long as that were viable, just to retain control of the narrative. But you can’t quarantine the President w/o it coming out, not these days(\*). And evidently if either of them has to get hauled to Walter Reed, word will get out fast. \*Then after that, again if it were up to him, he’d want daily glowing reports on how he’s making the bestest ever recovery and showing amazing healing power, and if he does recover he’d want to make statements that it just was a mild infection and nobody ever officially proved it was the virus, even if the Surgeon General, Dr Brix, Dr. Fauci \*and himself \*had all announced it at the start. Were the situation to be that Trump had to be ventilated while Pence remains asymptomatic, usually it would be a no-brainer to activate the temporary incapacitation provisions of the XXVth. But one wonders if Trump would be willing to sign the _“If I get knocked out into sweet oblivion, Mike’s in charge until I can again answer who and where I am”_ note like Reagan and George W did or if he’d leave it to the docs, the cabinet, and the family to get into a loud argument about at what point of incapacitation Pence is automatically Acting Prez. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/25 "2020-05-09T05:48:44Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > . . . About Don, I agree his instinct would be to demand it not be spoken of and no question about it be answered as long as that were viable, just to retain control of the narrative. But you can’t quarantine the President w/o it coming out, not these days(\*). And evidently if either of them has to get hauled to Walter Reed, word will get out fast. Recall that Trump did get hauled off to Walter Reed last November for an unscheduled doctor visit. It was immediately all over the news that this happened. But I don’t think it’s ever been made public to this day _why_ that happened. So there’s at least some capacity to keep secrets. Still, if Trump or Pence got seriously sick to the point of being hospitalized for more than a few days, that couldn’t be kept secret. ETA: Link: [Press Watch: Why was Trump rushed to the hospital? Count on the media to swallow official lies](https://www.salon.com/2019/11/18/press-watch-why-was-trump-rushed-to-the-hospital-count-on-the-media-to-swallow-official-lies/), Dan Froomkin, _Salon_, Nov. 18, 2019. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/26 "2020-05-09T06:46:57Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Just what we need–conspiracy theories. :rolleyes: I’m willing to entertain the proposition that “if Trump or Pence tested positive, the public would be immediately informed and it is absurd to speculate that the government would try to keep the test results secret.” But I don’t think that speculating that such information would be kept under wraps is a conspiracy theory; it’s just an observation and prediction about how the current administration likes to handle things. Here’s a pretty good set of definitions for CT, from [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com): > [@](#): > > [ol] > [li]a theory that rejects the standard explanation for an event and instead credits a covert group or organization with carrying out a secret plot:[/li]_One popular conspiracy theory accuses environmentalists of sabotage in last year’s mine collapse._ > [li]a belief that a particular unexplained event was caused by such a covert group:[/li]_A number of conspiracy theories have already emerged, purporting to explain last week’s disappearance of a commercial flight over international waters._ > [li]the idea that many important political events or economic and social trends are the products of deceptive plots that are largely unknown to the general public:[/li]_The more I learn about the activities of intelligence agencies, the less far-fetched I find many geopolitical conspiracy theories_ > [/ol]. Which one of these definitions do you think fits? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/27 "2020-05-09T07:46:52Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You are mistaken. “They wouldn’t tell us if the President had the virus” is just as silly as the other theories that are routinely debunked on this board. Heck, promulgating some of the said “theories” are banned, by the rules. I guess you are free to report whatever you want, right? BTW, care to answer the question posed in the OP? I think that not only would Trump hide the fact that he contracted the virus, he and his cronies would start a campaign claiming that there is an evil conspiracy to discredit him by “falsely” claiming that he was infected. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/28 "2020-05-09T07:51:28Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Given that Trump and Pence have both made a big stinking’ deal out of why _they_ don’t have to wear masks, I think a tiny little cackle is warranted. They’re leading by example and they’re dangerous. If they’ve already got the virus anyway, there’s no selfish reason for them to wear masks, right? (It seems fair to stipulate they don’t care about infecting others.) > [@RTFirefly](#): > > … So ideally they’d both die of the coronavirus quickly and nearly simultaneously, so that there wouldn’t be time to nominate and confirm a new veep per the 25th Amendment before they were both dead, and President Pelosi could take the reins. Unlike other Presidential appointees who need only Senate confirmation, a replacement V.P. requires _both_ Senate _and_ House to confirm, IIUC. If the Ds in the House lack the gumption to say No to every V.P. nomination by Trump or Pence, then I give up. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/29 "2020-05-09T07:54:09Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You are mistaken. “They wouldn’t tell us if the President had the virus” is just as silly as the other theories that are routinely debunked on this board. Heck, promulgating some of the said “theories” are banned, by the rules. 😕 If Trump has asymptomatic covid-19, it strikes me as almost certain he would try to keep it secret. YMMV and apparently does. ---
**Author:** ![etasyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9f8e36/32.png) [@etasyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etasyde)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/30 "2020-05-09T07:57:40Z")
A positive COVID-19 result isn’t something that’s easily hidden, especially for a figure as publicly visible as either Trump or Pence. They’re grossly incompetent, but even they/their staff are not incompetent enough to try to hide it and risk it being leaked to the public. They’d rather get out ahead of the story and spin it than let the public get ahold of it through a leak - and they know their administration is about as leak-resistant as a bucket with no bottom. No, I’d see them say something like “Trump heroically weathers the Chinese virus as an example of all Americans to follow” rather than have another embarrassment to deal with. COVID has been a danger zone for Trump approval ratings even among the diehards. Trump may not care about looking like a buffoon to 60% of the population, but when that last 40% starts questioning him, I believe shit gets real. Edit: If it’s asymptomatic, then it’s actually even **better**. “See, I told you it was just the flu. Own the libz!” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/31 "2020-05-09T08:03:25Z")
> [@etasyde](#): > > A positive COVID-19 result isn’t something that’s easily hidden, especially for a figure as publicly visible as either Trump or Pence. They’re grossly incompetent, but even they/their staff are not incompetent enough to try to hide it and risk it being leaked to the public. Are you saying that Trump’s medical personnel would be upfront about his health? ---
**Author:** ![etasyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9f8e36/32.png) [@etasyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etasyde)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/32 "2020-05-09T08:14:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are you saying that Trump’s medical personnel would be upfront about his health? Wouldn’t need to. Assuming it’s asymptomatic, he’s already established he wont be seen wearing masks or doing anything that contain the spread. So either he goes into isolation for two weeks for no apparent reason (which would be the “hard to hide for a visible figure” bit), or he infects… well… everyone around him not just his staff. Someone will leak in either case. If it’s not asymptomatic - and I’m not convinced he’s the picture of health - well, it’s **really** hard to hide the president’s use of a ventilator. Or even just disappearing for two weeks assuming it’s not severe. ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/33 "2020-05-09T09:36:31Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are you saying that Trump’s medical personnel would be upfront about his health? We still haven’t heard about his real weight or height, so they seem to be good at keeping things under wraps. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/35 "2020-05-09T10:31:55Z")
Trump has maintained one of the most secretive presidencies in the history of the US. No tax info, not even congressional review and oversight, puts forth a picture of perfect heath though his diet is questionable, and his age and weight would hint otherwise. One of his former doctors IIRC had to lie about Trump’s health saying it’s perfect. I don’t think Trump would admit to it, and just go into hiding for a bit having the best heath care to get him though. > [@Hasassn](#): > > No, because Trump wants us to think he is not a human. I believe this is part of it, he wants a mythical image of himself divorced from being human. The less we know of his human side the more he appears to be a demigod. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/36 "2020-05-09T11:43:31Z")
Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if he announces that he’s had it already, and his body cured it with the pure power of his incredible health and manliness. In fact, he’s had it several times and didn’t even notice because it’s just a flu, and he’s the hardest working President ever so nobody even noticed that he was sick. And all the smartest scientists are going to use his blood to make a cure. And a tough Marine came up to him last night, tears in his eyes, and said, “Sir…” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/37 "2020-05-09T12:17:34Z")
If there’s an announcement that Trump has COVID and the stock market goes _up_, what would that suggest? ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/38 "2020-05-10T08:57:54Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > If there’s an announcement that Trump has COVID and the stock market goes _up_, what would that suggest? Sighs of relief. But try another tack: Some minions (more than one = confirmation) leak to NYT or WaPo that Putin’s puppy is a sick puppy or at least has tested positive. Bold headlines ensue. Then the First Traitor undergoes a public test that flashes NEGATIVE and justifies further FAKE NEWS! diversionary rants. Might senior editors suspect such a ploy? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/39 "2020-05-10T14:13:58Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/40 "2020-05-10T17:12:05Z")
He was rushed to the hospital last year, and we still don’t know what that was actually about. So, there is zero chance they would be forthcoming about a COVID infection. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/41 "2020-05-11T09:59:48Z")
It would leak. That team can’t keep a secret for anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430.md?page=3)