Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Friday said Americans should “continue to pray … for all those impacted by COVID-19” after President Trump announced that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus.
“Happy to hear the White House physician’s report that @POTUS and @FLOTUS are feeling well following their positive tests for COVID-19,” McConnell tweeted. “Let’s continue to pray today and every day for our President and our First Lady and for all those impacted by COVID-19.”
Trump and the first lady tweeted early Friday morning that they had tested positive for COVID-19. The announcement came after news reports that top White House adviser Hope Hicks tested positive on Thursday morning.
The president said he will quarantine, just weeks before the election and as the GOP-controlled Senate works to confirm his Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Both McConnell and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) indicated that the confirmation process would be unaffected by Trump’s diagnosis.
Trump has held in-person campaign rallies, including an indoor event in September, leading up to his positive test result. He also shared the debate stage with Democratic nominee Joe Biden on Tuesday. Biden is expected to be tested Friday morning.