# Trump and Melania test positive for COVID-19 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 2, 2020, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010 "2020-10-02T05:07:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/283 "2020-10-02T17:16:49Z")
From Grand Old Party, to Southern Strategy, to Watergate break-in, to MAGA, to COVID. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/284 "2020-10-02T17:20:52Z")
I have decided that I don’t wish the President to become very ill. I don’t want anybody to suffer but I would like him to experience enough symptoms to take it seriously and to acknowledge that it is not just like the flu. Therefore, I am hoping that the only symptom he gets is loss of sense of smell (and maybe some bad diarrhea for a few days). Let him be annoyed but not seriously ill. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/285 "2020-10-02T17:23:32Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > I think this deserves its own thread: > [Trump experiencing 'mild symptoms' after testing positive for Covid-19](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-first-lady-test-positive-covid-19-n1241769) > > I wonder what this is going to mean for the election. Will the debates go on as scheduled? Will Trump get a mild case, and just carry on with the ‘it’s just a flu’-shtick? Will he get seriously sick? > > Sadly, I have little hope that this will change his stance on the seriousness of the disease—unless maybe he himself gets seriously sick. What’s the point of the diarrhea if he loses his sense of smell? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/286 "2020-10-02T17:24:29Z")
From this chart of today’s DJIA activity, can you point to when Biden made his announcement? [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OIQAx0Vnpg-YvRemF1UF4e2IkSWNl41pXiFmy6_2VxxfXb2DUEkMl-mexc6h3ziOhc3mgMTHgaSMOo8cBOELCW2SEhCqGeoYGe3R-8FV86BNydnNrM33XXoBP6FyfEHH7DjO0DQ0Lw=w600-h315-p-k "New item by John Thornton") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/QWPfhNhUqDF7vhvc7) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/287 "2020-10-02T17:27:06Z")
Maybe he should get sick to the degree that he and Malania share a ventilator. He thought the sharing of ventilators was an innovative success. I’m sure he’ll love it. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/288 "2020-10-02T17:27:35Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Therefore, I am hoping that the only symptom he gets is loss of sense of smell (and maybe some bad diarrhea for a few days). Let him be annoyed but not seriously ill. > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > What’s the point of the diarrhea if he loses his sense of smell? LOL! He needs to be ill enough so that he can’t claim that Covid is no big deal and masks are silly and we should open everything back up all the way in spite of the evil Democrats who are trying to ruin this country. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/289 "2020-10-02T17:37:18Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Brilliant strategy! He’s showing that he is a man of the people. It worked for Bill “I feel your pain!” Clinton. Why not here and now? I wouldn’t be surprised if he is faking this news. I’ll bet Plugs Biden is kicking himself for not thinking of it first. So you approve if, in fact, Trump is faking this news. You would consider this “brilliant” for the president to lie about something this important, to destabilize the country (military forces are now on alert), all for his own and the Republican’s gain. And you then project this abhorrent thought onto Biden, who you assume would have done the same, if only he had thought about it. Because it’s hard to think that anyone would act in a responsible manner, and put country first. This really does sum up today’s Republicans. Party over country indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/290 "2020-10-02T17:42:21Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I agree that there would be a sweet spot in the Trump illness spectrum that would be beneficial to Biden. If Trump is too sick to do virtual campaigning and call-ins to Fox and Friends but not sick enough for anyone to write him off as dead in the water, then it might not be so bad. In general, not being on the campaign trail is bad for you. In Trump’s case, he does better when others are out there acting as oracles, translating his words. When people hear the original, from his mouth words that generally drops his polling. Between that and the rally and the flag effect, the only two good courses (in terms of Biden’s win odds - and no other meaning) are that Trump heal quickly or die. Lingering in the middle is probably bad. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/291 "2020-10-02T17:44:26Z")
CNN is reporting that Amy Coney Barrett already had COVID in summer, and recovered. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/292 "2020-10-02T17:58:02Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > …the only two good courses (in terms of Biden’s win odds - and no other meaning) are that Trump heal quickly or die. Lingering in the middle is probably bad. I think the opposite. Trump lingering in ill health until January is what I’m hoping for. If he’s quite ill, but remains in office and remains on the ticket, it keeps his stupidity and mishandling of COVID front and center, and it keeps the Republican campaign and strategy in uncertainty and disarray with nowhere really to go. I think it’s a certainty he loses. And it makes it somewhat less likely that he’ll have the energy or inclination to cause harm to the country - either through meddling in the election results, or through causing petulant harm as a lame duck. If he dies quickly, or is so gets so ill that he is quickly replaced on the ticket, we have Pence (or conceivably Romney), and still a month to go. They are still likely to lose at the top of the ticket, but it’s much more out of left field, so I feel there’s more uncertainty there. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/293 "2020-10-02T18:03:52Z")
Your post about Barrett reminded me that the latest polling dip for Trump and GOP candidates coincided with the announcement that they intend to go forward with her nomination. Wondering if they a) make that same connection and b) might reconsider in light of polling data. Her nomination is probably tanking not only Trump’s chances but the Senate’s. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/294 "2020-10-02T18:09:02Z")
You can track them on [ADSBExchange.com](http://ADSBExchange.com). There are two flying as of my time of posting, [YELOW07](https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae63ff,ae1e6f,ae6043,aa30e6,ae638e,a19e61,ae1e67,a66e64,ae1201,ae6401,ae6482,ae67b9,a6e6ae,a975e6,ae0418,ae06db,ae63ed,abae62,a64e67,ae6046,ae6789,ae686b,~338de6,c87e67,ae0412) and [PUMP08](https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae0418). ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/295 "2020-10-02T18:17:25Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Wondering if they a) make that same connection and b) might reconsider in light of polling data. Her nomination is probably tanking not only Trump’s chances but the Senate’s. I don’t know, I think it’s wishful thinking that the demise of Trump will suddenly transform the Republicans into ethical people who care about the wishes of the people. I think she’ll be confirmed. What I do hope is that we get a decisive outcome with the Senate going to the Dems, and they don’t shy away from packing the court. I don’t think packing the court is the end of the game, rather it makes clear that the game must change. The Dems have to have the will and the mandate undertake some fundamental reforms to preserve democracy in this country. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/296 "2020-10-02T18:25:15Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > So you approve if, in fact, Trump is faking this news. You would consider this “brilliant” for the president to lie about something this important, to destabilize the country (military forces are now on alert), all for his own and the Republican’s gain. I’m neither approving nor disapproving of the tactic, merely commenting on its brilliance. You’ll notice nobody is talking about his taxes anymore. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/297 "2020-10-02T18:28:30Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Yeah, as much as it pains me to say it, let’s hope he doesn’t take his own advice re: bleach. Oh, sure, why not? As long as drinks the bleach sarcastically. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/298 "2020-10-02T18:30:06Z")
“Nobody”? > **[How Can President Trump Pay Less Tax Than You?](https://www.npr.org/2020/10/02/919175046/how-can-president-trump-pay-less-tax-than-you)** > > No matter what you do for a living, odds are you paid more federal income tax than Trump did the year he took office. Analysts say real estate tax breaks allowed him to avoid high tax bills. > **[What Former President Trump's Taxes Reveal About US Tax Law](https://www.investopedia.com/what-trump-s-taxes-reveal-about-us-tax-law-5080039)** > > The Times report spotlights big tax write-offs for real estate developers, refunds of past taxes based on present business losses, and other benefits. > **[Trump’s taxes, DeSantis’ reopening and mask-less voters | Letters to the editor](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/letters/fl-op-letters-trump-taxes-desantis-reopening-20201002-yaukrik6lnhrhcpk5ogfywhduq-story.html)** > > Readers have a lot to say on the New York Times' blockbuster story on Trump's tax returns, our governor's decision to lift many coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses, our stories on the potential for mask-less voters at the polls ... and... ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/299 "2020-10-02T18:35:33Z")
What kind of blows my mind is the markets. The president announced he has a potentially life-ending disease and the markets’ have basically said “Meh. Whatever.” ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/300 "2020-10-02T18:41:27Z")
The market has been assuming Trump is not going to win and essentially sees this as no change. It needed the reassurance that Biden tested negative though. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/301 "2020-10-02T18:43:53Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I’m neither approving nor disapproving of the tactic, merely commenting on its brilliance. I’ve never bought into this line of BS, and I’ve heard it from both liberals and conservatives. Trump is not brilliant. He never has been. All those times when he supposedly distracted us were due to one or both of the following: 1. Trump has a short attention span. He gets bored easily, especially with topics he doesn’t really understand. He turns his attention elsewhere, which inevitably means he says something stupid and outrageous, not as a distraction but because he’s always saying stupid and outrageous crap. 2. News keeps happening. One news story bumps the previous one onto page two, and Trump says something stupid and outrageous about the new story. Despite the mythology, he’s really not all that bright. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/302 "2020-10-02T18:45:46Z")
But, can you point out where on this chart Biden announced he didn’t have the Rona? [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OIQAx0Vnpg-YvRemF1UF4e2IkSWNl41pXiFmy6_2VxxfXb2DUEkMl-mexc6h3ziOhc3mgMTHgaSMOo8cBOELCW2SEhCqGeoYGe3R-8FV86BNydnNrM33XXoBP6FyfEHH7DjO0DQ0Lw=w600-h315-p-k "New item by John Thornton") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/QWPfhNhUqDF7vhvc7) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=16)