# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/81 "2020-10-02T08:43:01Z")
Next: Trump declares that this unfairly affects the election, so it should be postponed, or that he should get a do-over, or he will say that the results are invalid, and sue to overturn them. What happens if a presidential candidate dies during the run up to an election? Does his running mate automatically take over? Any votes already cast automatically transfer? Is there any legislation, precedent or clause in the constitution about it? ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/82 "2020-10-02T08:48:36Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > “The only thing that would be worse than Covid-19 is Biden-20” Now that’s funny. First joke in this thread that made me laugh. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/83 "2020-10-02T08:49:04Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > What happens if a presidential candidate dies during the run up to an election? Does his running mate automatically take over? Any votes already cast automatically transfer? Is there any legislation, precedent or clause in the constitution about it? States have allowed the party to select a replacement, I believe allowing the votes for a deceased candidate to apply to that selection. In this case of a presidential election I think there is an assumption that the vice presidential candidate would be the replacement but it is still up to the states, and then in some states eventually up the electors. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/84 "2020-10-02T08:52:16Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > only person I’ve heard spell out “A-O-C” every time he has to blather about whatever that socialist is doing to ruin America) I’m British, and quite a few aspects of US politics and/or popular culture go over my head. Please explain what [A-O-C](https://www.acronymfinder.com/aoc.html) means. - Administrative Office of the Courts ? - Area of Concern ? - Architect of the Capitol ? ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/85 "2020-10-02T08:53:40Z")
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/86 "2020-10-02T08:55:52Z")
Totally not buying it unless he gets sick enough for it to show. ---
**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, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/87 "2020-10-02T08:59:02Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > [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. Via the Guardian: > You may be seeing a lot of social media chatter about the US having scrambled some nuclear command planes , as an act of bravado to warn adversaries that even if the commander-in-chief is laid low with coronavirus the nation is still on high alert. **But those planes are in the air a lot of the time anyway, it’s no kind of special signal.** > > > There’s a lot of chatter about those “airborne nuclear command centers”, but these two Boeing E6A Mercury aircraft were indeed flying almost daily since over the past month, publicly available flight data shows: the AE0414 flew at least on 20 days, and the AE0415 at least 14. That’s the problem with getting news from Twitter. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/88 "2020-10-02T09:02:25Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. Thanks. Never heard of her. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2020, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/89 "2020-10-02T09:09:39Z")
What took him so long? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/90 "2020-10-02T09:11:14Z")
I’m sure his intubation tube will be gold plated, but if Covid wants you, Covid gets you. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2020, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/91 "2020-10-02T09:11:49Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > “The only thing that would be worse than Covid-19 is Biden-20” That statement is funny. That your neighbor took it quietly down is hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/92 "2020-10-02T09:17:27Z")
That was a reply to a comment and I don’t intend to sound so glib because for the first time in this election season, I’m scared. This shit is going right off the fucking rails. And it’s all on Trump. That idiot has been tempting this hoax/disease since the first cough in this country. As I posted on Twitter, I have a great sense of schadenfreude washing over me but this is a night mare for this country. If he dies, the right will freak right the fuck out. The Proud Boys will go after anybody they consider complicit in poisoning Dear Leader. Fox “News” will have 25/7 memorial/conspiracy theory specials. Will Pence be president? Pelosi? Biden? Someone else? Do we just fall back on an anarcho-syndicalist commune where we take turns being a sort of executive office of the week? I just went back to work and only now am I beginning to be frightened to leave my house. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/93 "2020-10-02T09:32:53Z")
Remember most of his family and supporters at the debate did not wear masks. They put everyone else there at risk. His base will use this as proof of Q-anon. ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/94 "2020-10-02T09:33:29Z")
List of people who’ve been in contact with Trump from the BBC: > On Monday, he held a news briefing - giving an update on his administration’s coronavirus testing strategy - in the White House Rose Garden which was attended by Vice-President Mike Pence, Health Secretary Alex Azar and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos among others. > > At the high-profile TV debate in Cleveland on Tuesday, the president not only shared a stage with his Democrat rival Joe Biden but he was also joined by his most senior aides, including White House Chief of staff Mark Meadows, campaign strategist Jason Miller and policy adviser Stephen Miller. > > All his children - and their partners - were also with him. Observers noted that none wore masks during the debate. > > During the week, his Supreme Court nominee - Judge Amy Coney Barrett - also visited the White House, and Trump attended both a rally and private fundraiser in Minnesota, the New York Times reports. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-54382914](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-54382914) (@10:04) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/95 "2020-10-02T09:45:36Z")
> [@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).? So are most of the rest of the Congress. Which might one way to unseat long-term incumbents but it’s not the sort of turmoil I look forward to. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/96 "2020-10-02T09:55:30Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Thanks. Never heard of her. That’s because she’s a backbencher with essentially no power except riling up elderly covidiots who think she’s the next Fidel Castro. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/97 "2020-10-02T10:03:51Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > [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. > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Can anyone explain, please? What does the Navy think they can do against the virus? > [@Smapti](#): > > The E6-B is an airborne command center that can coordinate nuclear retaliation in the event of an enemy first strike. Launching them is a warning sign to any enemies that might take advantage of Loser Donald’s infirmity. Normally, there is one in the air at all times. Two in the air would be the difference here. But two in the air isn’t really that unusual, either. Looks like some one spotted these and made some assumptions. E-6B’s are aloft _at all times_ and have been since they went into service something like 30 or 40 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/98 "2020-10-02T10:31:23Z")
I think the most plausible reason for it to be fake is to provide cover for dropping out of the race. If he sees the polls and doesn’t want to risk public humiliation it would make sense. Not that I have any real reason to think the news is fake. ---
**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, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/99 "2020-10-02T10:38:47Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > E-6B’s are aloft _at all times_ and have been since they went into service something like 30 or 40 years ago. Damn, those pilots must be _old_. ---
**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, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/100 "2020-10-02T10:45:44Z")
Just saw the news. Wow. Shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. I hope Biden didn’t get it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=6)