# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/41 "2020-10-02T06:07:21Z")
The skeptic in me thinks this is bullshit. A real convenient way to skip the next two debates (or at least the next town hall one). Plus, in two weeks he can say what a nothingberder COVID is, so, hey, let’s open the country back up now; the Democrats are just trying to scare us! ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/42 "2020-10-02T06:10:20Z")
It is entirely within the realm of possibility. Malingering is as old as history. It would, of course, be a bitch-ass move. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/43 "2020-10-02T06:11:48Z")
> [@discobot](#): > > This is the first time Zack\_Poppet has posted — let’s welcome them to our community! Welcome to our community, **Zack\_Poppet**! ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/44 "2020-10-02T06:13:07Z")
I don’t think there’s a realistic chance of this being a hoax. It would be too much of an admission of weakness on Trump’s part, at least in his eyes, and that’s just not something he’s capable of. I think there’s basically two options: one, he gets an asymptomatic to very mild case—then, I think we’re in for trouble, because he’ll just spin it as ‘see, it’s just a mild flu’. But if he gets sick enough that there’s no way of hiding the fact that he struggles, then I don’t see any other way for him to portray this than as a very serious illness he could only overcome thanks to his superior health and whatever other bullshit. He essentially has to compulsively make himself look strong, even if in none other than his own eyes. Of course, this would mean a break with his earlier policy—but he can just take the tried and true route of flat out failing to acknowledge that. ‘I’ve always thought this is a very serious illness’… ¯\_(ツ)\_/¯ ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/45 "2020-10-02T06:14:24Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I hope you guys realize that there is a realistic chance that Trump, Pence, Biden, Harris, Pelosi and Grassley are all on ventilators come Election day, they are ALL super high risk (including Harris who is diabetic).? A quick bit of googling doesn’t show me any evidence that Kamala Harris is a diabetic. What I do find is links showing that the wrestler James “Kamala” Harris, who died earlier this year, was a diabetic. Do you have any cites for Kamala Harris the politician? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/46 "2020-10-02T06:15:27Z")
That is truly scary, right there. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/47 "2020-10-02T06:16:28Z")
It’s also not impossible that he has it, has a bad time of it but recovers, gets enough of a sympathy vote to scrape a win, but then suffers “[long Covid](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/long-covid-symptoms-hospitalised-long-haulers-three-months-study-b693848.html)” - and what would that do? ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/48 "2020-10-02T06:17:16Z")
Sorry, I feel this is the utmost bullshit news ever. How many GoFundMe “charities” have been formed for the ailing and patriotic Trump family since this crap was tweeted? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/49 "2020-10-02T06:17:38Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > It would be too much of an admission of weakness on Trump’s part, at least in his eyes, and that’s just not something he’s capable of. But he _has_ admitted he has it. Why is is such a stretch to think he’s lying about it for a political purpose? ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/50 "2020-10-02T06:21:30Z")
This is shocking to me. I was wondering why he hadn’t gotten it earlier with all the contact he had to people who tested positive on his staff in the early days. I was beginning to think that he was immune. For him to be getting it now is surprising to me. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/51 "2020-10-02T06:27:37Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I hope you guys realize that there is a realistic chance that Trump, Pence, Biden, Harris, Pelosi and Grassley are all on ventilators come Election day What is “a realistic chance” to you? Anything more than 0%? You can not actually think there is “a realistic chance that Trump, Pence, Biden, Harris, Pelosi and Grassley are all on ventilators come Election day” They may all be high risk but they are also going to great lengths, one would think, to not get infected in the first place. All of those people have considerable government assets dedicated to keeping them healthy. Unless I missed something somewhere?? ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/52 "2020-10-02T06:28:25Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Of course, this would mean a break with his earlier policy—but he can just take the tried and true route of flat out failing to acknowledge that. ‘I’ve always thought this is a very serious illness’… I’ve been watching Fox News coverage. It’s very interesting that they keep rotating through the very few pictures there are of Trump in a mask. Subtly starting the spin? ---
**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, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/53 "2020-10-02T06:32:42Z")
Trump: “Every time you see Biden, he’s wearing a mask.” Moderator: “Mr. President, you’ve held a lot of big rallies with little distancing…” Trump: “Outdoors.” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/54 "2020-10-02T06:34:56Z")
Hey, it worked to get him out of Vietnam. Maybe this time it will work to get him out of the Oval Office! What worries me is that his supporters will feel sorry for him, blame the Democratic party for it, or worse yet, blame immigrants, Muslims, and others they hate for getting the thing to him. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/55 "2020-10-02T06:39:52Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > But he _has_ admitted he has it. Why is is such a stretch to think he’s lying about it for a political purpose? [The Navy has launched E6-B Mercuries on both coasts](https://twitter.com/TimInHonolulu/status/1311883569086623744/photo/1), so apparently they don’t think he’s lying. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2020, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/56 "2020-10-02T06:40:18Z")
From the CNN article: > [@](#): > > “The President takes the health and safety of himself and everyone who works in support of him and the American people very seriously,” White House spokesman Judd Deere told CNN in a statement when asked about the level of contact between Hicks and Trump. ---
**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, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/57 "2020-10-02T06:42:17Z")
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. ETA: Apparently, this post was “hidden by the community.” I’m not sure why, but the bot recommended I edit it to make it more appropriate. This is my edit. All I can add is that I am a Trump supporter, and I’m hypothesizing that, true or not, this is a gambit in the electoral strategy. That’s all I can add. If it is still not up to “community standards,” so be it. ---
**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, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/58 "2020-10-02T06:42:57Z")
I’ve always had my doubts about Trump’s actual state of health. Sure, he has the best health care possible, but he’s lazy, eats crappy food, and mentally is essentially a spoiled four-year-old child who easily could have been refusing to do the things the doctor says to do for years. Regardless, this has to affect him psychologically, if he actually believes any of those things he told Woodward about the virus. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/59 "2020-10-02T06:44:41Z")
The Bolsonaro Gambit. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/60 "2020-10-02T06:51:33Z")
Trump loves rallies too much for it to be a hoax, especially since he’ll be quarantined for nearly half the days until the election. If he was going to fake it, he’d have done so weeks ago. Still, I hope both he and Pence go on ventilators. President Pelosi has such a nice ring to it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=4)