# 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:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/42 "2020-05-11T11:21:45Z")
Theory: > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > “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. Fact: > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > He was rushed to the hospital last year, and we still don’t know what that was actually about. As my grandfather used to say, “another great theory ruined by the facts.” ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/43 "2020-05-11T14:17:08Z")
I’ve been wondering if he’s actually being tested. Is there a rapid-result test for COVID that _doesn’t_ involve a stick being rammed up the nostrils? Because I can’t see him being willing to do that day after day. Maybe they’re just checking him for fever or something. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/44 "2020-05-11T15:05:44Z")
Well, the point is moot, since we all know that Trump is the healthiest person to ever become president. In fact, he’s the healthiest person in history. He’s so healthy, that he wrote his health report himself. No virus would dare infect him. As for Pence - who cares? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/45 "2020-05-11T15:12:00Z")
I thin they’d keep it secret, lest the spontaneous street celebrations would accelerate the spread of corona. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/46 "2020-05-11T16:06:58Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I’ve been wondering if he’s actually being tested. Is there a rapid-result test for COVID that _doesn’t_ involve a stick being rammed up the nostrils? Because I can’t see him being willing to do that day after day. Maybe they’re just checking him for fever or something. Yes, and IIRC, Trump and the White House have been enthused about the Abbott Rapid Test, that’s what they’ve been using. > **[To protect Trump, White House among first to use rapid coronavirus tests...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-rapid-coronavirus-tests-abott/2020/04/07/98e44a76-78e9-11ea-a130-df573469f094_story.html)** > > Visitors to meet with President Trump are required to undergo covid-19 tests that can provide results in less than 15 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/47 "2020-05-12T18:12:56Z")
I wonder if it is medically possible for Trump to get infected by the virus or if it would rather be the other way around. I almost fell sorry for the virus. As for Pence, who would give a damn except for the technical formalities of succession? Not even lawyers… ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/48 "2020-05-14T00:21:15Z")
The worst possible thing that could happen is for Trump to get it and be amongst the 80% who are only mildly affected. Literally the last thing we need is him going on TV and talking about how getting the coronavirus is no big deal and others will be just fine like he is. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430/49 "2020-05-14T00:39:28Z")
It is worth pointing out that if either Trump or Pence dies, there will be no new VP. Can you imagine Nancy Pelosi allowing such an appointment to be even considered by the house? No new VPs in the final year of a presidency. And then if the other one dies, you know who will become president–or acting president–whatever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-public-would-be-told-if-trump-or-pence-tested-positive/853430.md?page=2)