# 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:** 48
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/945 "2020-10-05T00:35:12Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Hold the phone. Am I to understand the video I’ve been seeing of Trump waving from the back of an SUV is just him circling the hospital so he can wave like the County Potato Queen and then go back in for more treatment? I thought I was seeing him going back to the White House and I’ve been wondering if that was wise. > > Someone set me straight. He’s still in the hospital, right? That was just a joyride around the neighborhood? Yes. As discussed above in the thread, Trump is receiving steroids that can make a patient temporarily stronger than his actual health warrants. This or other treatment may also be making him more reckless than usual. In any case, he was strong enough to sit up in the back of a car for a while.\* The purposes: - (minor) to please little Donny by letting him see some of his fans, out along the road, and - (major) To goose the stock market into showing “strength” when it opens tomorrow morning. . . . \*By law the press is supposed to be given access to a President’s comings and goings, from the White House or any other place he or she may be. But no members of the press were permitted to witness Trump getting into that SUV, today. So we don’t know to what extent he was able to do so unassisted. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/946 "2020-10-05T00:36:47Z")
> **[Donald Trump did not disclose a positive result from a rapid test for...](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/trump-coronavirus-positive-fox-white-house-b788989.html?utm_source=reddit.com)** > > ‘I’m glued to Twitter and TV because I have no official communication from anyone in the West Wing,’ one administration official told the WSJ ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/947 "2020-10-05T00:42:32Z")
“When did Trump know he was positive for COVID-19” is obviously a major political hot-potato. And just as obviously, we can count on Trump and all around him—including his doctors, sadly—to lie their asses off about the timeline. Trump’s fans won’t care; they’ll find some way to twist it into ‘he was owning the libs’ or similar sense-free rationalizations for their hero deliberately exposing others to infection. But I’m hoping some of the major donors may be concluding that enough is enough. And if the big-money boys decide Trump is a liability, a call to Mitch McConnell will result in the Cabinet falling in line, 25th-Amendment-wise. (Pence, of course, will do as he is told.) ---
**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 5, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/948 "2020-10-05T00:44:16Z")
Seriously, they blocked off traffic and had a motorcade just so he could wave at his fans and make himself feel better? Plus put the other occupants of the car in jeopardy? One would hope, in vain, that this brush with mortality would inject some sense into that empty noggin. What is it about Donald that turns everyone in contact with him into a lying asshole. I have no reason to doubt that his doctor is technically proficient. How could he allow himself to withhold information and give the pollyanna updates knowing full well just how sick his patient was/is? It seems to me one of two things must be true: he was sick far earlier than was stated or the speed of the onset of symptoms and their severity indicates he was a whole lot sicker than advertised. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/949 "2020-10-05T00:44:42Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Something that was meant to convey strength but makes the man look ridiculous. I mean Trump’s little hands waving from the backseat while he peers out is just so…childish looking When you have the mind of a toddler … > [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > My god there must 50 people out there. Trump - There is enthusiasm like no one has ever seen! 50? You surely mean 50 _ **thousand** _! It was the bigliest crowd the world has ever seen!! This will shortly be confirmed by the WH press secretary (if she knows what’s good for her). ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/950 "2020-10-05T00:58:20Z")
They [absolutely and unambiguously are contraindicated](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/503161-who-new-treatment-only-meant-for-severe-covid-19-cases) for mild COVID. _“The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said a common drug shown to be effective in treating COVID-19 is meant for use only among those who are suffering the most severe symptoms of the disease, not those who have milder cases.”_ _…_ _“This drug is purely for use under close clinical supervision. It has only been shown so far to be useful in the treatment of severely ill people with COVID-19, those people on oxygen, those people on ventilators,” said Mike Ryan, who heads the WHO’s emergency program overseeing the global response to the coronavirus pandemic._ ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/951 "2020-10-05T01:04:11Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > As discussed above in the thread, Trump is receiving steroids that can make a patient temporarily stronger than his actual health warrants. This or other treatment may also be making him more reckless than usual. My God! How would they ever be able to tell? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/952 "2020-10-05T01:04:36Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What is it about Donald that turns everyone in contact with him into a lying asshole. I have no reason to doubt that his doctor is technically proficient. How could he allow himself to withhold information and give the pollyanna updates knowing full well just how sick his patient was/is? Maybe the doc wants to keep his job. Unlike Mark Meadows, whose job is now in jeopardy for accidentally telling a snippet of truth about Dear Leader actually being seriously ill. Remember, Dear Leader (North Korea version) has such perfect metabolism that he never has to shit, while Dear Leader (USA version) has such perfect genes that he never gets sick. As for “technically proficient”, one normally would certainly think so about any president’s personal physician, but remember this guy was hired by Donny “Only the Best People” Trump – the kind of “best people” that by now have either quit or been fired or sent to jail. Seriously – the ending of the great miniseries _The Comey Rule_ lists dozens upon dozens of the principal players that were featured in the dramatization of the fiasco that is the Trump presidency, and every single one of them is now gone. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/953 "2020-10-05T01:06:58Z")
"My new design is suggestive of superhero graphic art because POTUS 45 has created a never before seen presidential mythos. I predict, ages hence, mythologies will abound of President Donald J. Trump, mythologies akin to the Epic of Gilgamesh." ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/954 "2020-10-05T01:07:13Z")
According to a doctor we know who runs the covid unit of a major midwest hospital, 1/3 of the people who need dexamethasone, 1/3 get better very quickly, another 1/3 slow down but still get very sick, and another 1/3 progress to needing a vent. And if you give dexamethasone to those that don’t need it, they do worse - excess bacterial infections. But we don’t know why he was given it, since they’re not telling us. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/955 "2020-10-05T01:17:07Z")
[https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/10/04/walter-reed-attending-physician-calls-trumps-brief-drive-by-political-theater-and-insanity/](https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/10/04/walter-reed-attending-physician-calls-trumps-brief-drive-by-political-theater-and-insanity/) ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/956 "2020-10-05T01:17:13Z")
The quote doesn’t say it’s _ **harmful** _ for those with less-serious cases, just that it is not proven to be beneficial. I can actually see the doctors tending to be more aggressive in treating a president’s condition than they might be with the average person. Plus, he HAS, supposedly, been given oxygen at least some of the time. Asthmatics are given steroids fairly frequently, when flaring, even when the flare is caused by something bacterial. I’ve quite often headed home from a consult with prednisone and an antibiotic. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/957 "2020-10-05T01:18:07Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I have no reason to doubt that his doctor is technically proficient. How could he allow himself to withhold information and give the pollyanna updates knowing full well just how sick his patient was/is? Seriously? American doctors can no longer release information against their patient’s will. And DJT is strong-willed. I predict that [this doc who did speak up](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/519562-walter-reed-attending-physician-swipes-at-trump-for-motorcade-visit) will be fired. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/958 "2020-10-05T01:20:28Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I predict that [this doc who did speak up](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/519562-walter-reed-attending-physician-swipes-at-trump-for-motorcade-visit%5B/url) will be fired.- That page has already been fired. Link goes to “not found.” ---
**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 5, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/959 "2020-10-05T01:20:54Z")
I don’t even know what you mean by “mild Covid”. Would that include a limited episode of oxygen desaturation? But I do know there are differences between absolute and relative contraindications. I am unaware that Trump has cerebral malaria or a systemic fungal infection. There is nothing else to say since neither of us are privy to the details. If you were to start a steroid, would you wait until: (A) there were several risk factors for deterioration such as age, weight and gender (B) an episode of desaturation © repeated episodes of desaturation (D) measured acidosis in blood gases (E) increased heart rate secondary to hypoxia (F) narrowing pulse pressure secondary to hypoxia (G) delayed capillary refill (H) need for high flow nasal cannula (I) loss of protective airway reflexes (J) signs of ischemia on ECG (K) transfer to ICU (L) an increase of creatinine by 25% (M) a doubling of creatinine (N) a decrease of urinary output by 50% (O) a decrease of stroke score by 3 points (P X-ray evidence of ARDS (Q) a pretest probability of worsening \>30% When you decide on your answer(s), I suggest you yell it loudly outside the nearest window. Have a nice night. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/960 "2020-10-05T01:21:28Z")
Has anyone here been on dexamethasone? Cuz this guy is making sound like it fucks a person up, and I wondering if his experience is typical: > **[Stanford Prof Questions Trump's Ability to Lead While on Dexamethasone](https://www.newsweek.com/hes-incapacitated-stanford-prof-questions-trumps-ability-lead-while-dexamethasone-recalls-1536288)** > > "I couldn't be President of my cat when I was on Dexamethasone. He should not be exercising the powers of the Office of President on that drug. We are lucky if he doesn't start a war," the Stanford law professor said. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/961 "2020-10-05T01:21:49Z")
Will doc be fired? > **[Walter Reed attending physician swipes at Trump for motorcade visit to...](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/519562-walter-reed-attending-physician-swipes-at-trump-for-motorcade-visit/)** > > An attending physician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday swiped at President Trump for leaving his hospital room and waving to supporters gathered outside from his motorcade… ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/962 "2020-10-05T01:23:08Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Has anyone here been on dexamethasone? Cuz this guy is making sound like it fucks a person up, and I wondering if his experience is typical: This “guy” is Michele Dauber, a well-known law and sociology professor. I suspect her dose after brain surgery is higher than what trump would be getting. ---
**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 5, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/963 "2020-10-05T01:23:24Z")
Side effects depend on length of use. There is a difference between a few doses in hospital they would give Trump, and the chronic problems it can cause if you take it daily for many weeks for severe joint pain. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/964 "2020-10-05T01:24:39Z")
Apologies for getting that detail wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=49)