# 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:** 16
**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, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/303 "2020-10-02T18:45:54Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Despite the mythology, he’s really not all that bright. > **[@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/really_not_all_that_bright/summary)** 😲 😉 ---
**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, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/304 "2020-10-02T18:47:08Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > 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. And in fact with the Biden news now seen as slightly positive - a modest rotation away from tech giant safe havens today. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/305 "2020-10-02T18:49:43Z")
Frum, a Conservative editor of The Atlantic and long-time Trump critic was remarkably cutting in his latest essay. Saying you cannot trust this President to tell the truth about his health, and why. (NB: This magazine has a paywall but allows some free articles; will summarize if requested). > **[What Did You Expect?](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/what-did-you-expect-donald-trump/616583/)** > > Trump should never have been allowed anywhere near any public office. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/306 "2020-10-02T18:50:58Z")
Seriously. He would lie about everything under the sun, but I cannot believe this is fake news. He has the freaking virus. The dude can’t organize a one car parade, anything he does that bears any similarity to a tactic is pure coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/307 "2020-10-02T18:51:21Z")
So if we assume a scenario that Trump gets severe Covid, dies or is unable to fulfill his duties, that makes Pence the Candidate at some point. Which means the VP debate with Harris on the 7th may be the most consequential debate of the election (and perhaps this century) . ---
**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:** [October 2, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/308 "2020-10-02T18:53:28Z")
The Trump WH leaks like a sieve. There’s no way they could keep such a silly scheme secret. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/309 "2020-10-02T18:55:00Z")
Though the Bidens and their circle and everyone who was there at the debate should keep re-testing and taking precautions for a few more days. No dropping your guard now. And yes the campaign should continue, even if with no more face-offs between the two candidates. No suspending. ---
**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, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/310 "2020-10-02T18:55:08Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I’m neither approving nor disapproving of the tactic, merely commenting on its brilliance. You’ll notice nobody is talking about his taxes anymore. It’s brilliant to take over the news cycle with a _worse_ story? Where will this brilliance end? I guess if he runs across the White House lawn butt naked except for a plastic tiara, smearing his chest with a pentagram in the blood of a headless chicken, then for that news cycle they won’t be talking about his taxes _or_ COVID. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/311 "2020-10-02T18:55:57Z")
Oh, so now you admit that his taxes are a problem? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/312 "2020-10-02T18:57:21Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > > [@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. More Trumpist bullshit. There’s no positive way to spin this development and there’s no positive way to spin his taxes. He was faced with a crisis for the country and his reaction was first to downplay it as a political challenge by his opponents, then to ridicule its dangers to the nation’s health (he chained chairs together at his rallies, for og’s sake) and finally to dispute the expert advice he was receiving because it was news that he didn’t want to hear. He wasn’t up to the fucking task in any meaningful way and then it got him personally. I don’t know if anyone in the White House could have failed more spectacularly in more ways. If Donald had any sense of history, he’d start feeling like Adolph did when the American army began crossing the Elbe River. Another blustering tyrant wannabe in way over his head. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Max](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de053/32.png) [@Blue\_Max](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Max)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/313 "2020-10-02T18:57:47Z")
Something to add here is that everyone around Trump is rolling the dice too; Melania, the Trump Children, Hope Hicks, Ronna McDaniels, that was quite the list. I think a scenario 1 on its own is essentially impossible, if for no other reason not everyone is going to get through COVID-19 easily. Some of these people succumbing to Covid would be an extreme personal loss. Melania or one of the Trump Children dying might not do anything to the workings of government, but would absolutely call an non-negotiatable national focus on the consequences of Covid. Trump is a man to ignore unrealized dangers and claim they don’t exist, but its too many people too close to him to do it now. He will probably be unable to play a ‘nothingburger’ / ‘hoax’ gambit. On the other side of things, there’s also the chance one of those wealthy donors dies as well, which is a non-story but could lead to donations being cut. This, on top of himself getting very sick or dying, although I’m not sure a two month spell of sickness would really lead to martyrdom. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/314 "2020-10-02T19:00:15Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > (he chained chairs together at his rallies, for og’s sake) That wasn’t Trump for that, it’s standard for the chairs to be strapped together (Mt Rushmore) in case of evacuation. Otherwise, loose chairs getting overturned (or used as weapons in a panic) could impede clearing out the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/315 "2020-10-02T19:01:26Z")
More astounding to me was this Washington Post piece (behind a paywall) by Gary Abernathy, who as far as I can remember has never written a single negative word about Trump: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/09/30/trump-disrupter-has-lost-his-novelty/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/09/30/trump-disrupter-has-lost-his-novelty/) ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/316 "2020-10-02T19:02:57Z")
Yeah, I wrote that post not knowing how many people who have been close to Trump have already tested positive. Statistically speaking, it is very likely that someone in his inner circle will become seriously ill or die. Herman Cain’s death was a nothingburger to those already inclined to see COVID as an old black people disease. The death of someone like Chris Christie wouldn’t be so easy to ignore. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/317 "2020-10-02T19:05:38Z")
How long a time can there be after showing symptoms before you can assume they won’t have serious complications? Will we be on edge for the next week? I.e. how soon before we can declare that Trump won’t have serious problems? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/318 "2020-10-02T19:09:21Z")
It’s worth noting that based on his age, gender and BMI, Trump’s odds of [dying from COVID](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/10/02/trumps-age-weight-may-cause-covid-19-complications-doctors-say/) may not be that much different than the 20% chance Nate Silver currently has him at to win the election. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/319 "2020-10-02T19:20:22Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I’m neither approving nor disapproving of the tactic, merely commenting on its brilliance. Even Trump’s own aides and Republican strategists are saying that this is highly damaging to his election chances. So much for his ‘brilliance’. [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-campaign.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-campaign.html) ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/320 "2020-10-02T19:22:45Z")
If there is one thing we have learned since March is that this disease isn’t predictable. You can feel better one day and be on deaths door the next. And death is not the only outcome, you can be in long term care for an unpredictable amount of time. Now of course the President will get the best care, but even people with the best care can suffer greatly. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/321 "2020-10-02T19:26:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Mar a lardo Auto correct or a joke? Either way, pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/322 "2020-10-02T19:32:25Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > an emoji showing my eyes rolling so hard they leave my face, bounce on the pool table, twist around the eight-ball, and enter the side-pockets simultaneously. 🙄 Is the best we have, i believe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=17)