Trump told Sean Hannity he was still waiting on his COVID-19 test, when in fact he already had a positive result

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President Donald Trump had already tested positive for the coronavirus when he was interviewed by Fox News' Sean Hannity on Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported.

According to the outlet, Trump had taken two tests: a rapid one that quickly came back positive and a second one that took more time.

Trump apparently spoke with Hannity after the first result but before the second. But he did not mention the early test, instead saying: "I'll get my test back either tonight or tomorrow morning."

Soon after midnight, following the second test, Trump announced on Twitter that he had tested positive.

The White House is under scrutiny for misleading and at times contradictory statements from official sources about Trump's condition.

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President Donald Trump had already tested positive for the coronavirus when he gave Fox News an interview on his condition on Thursday night, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.

He omitted that information during the phone conversation with the host Sean Hannity — a close ally — instead saying he was still waiting to find out results.

Hannity asked Trump about his health after Bloomberg first reported that the White House advisor Hope Hicks had tested positive.

"I'll get my test back either tonight or tomorrow morning," the president said during the interview. "But, you know I spend a lot of time with Hope and so does the first lady."

But according to The Journal and CBS News, Trump had already taken a rapid-results test and knew the result was positive.

The Journal suggested that Trump chose to omit that result and instead appeared to refer to a more reliable lab test, which did indeed take more time.

At about 1 a.m. ET on Friday, after the second test, Trump tweeted that he had tested positive.

A White House official told the publication it was usual protocol at the White House to conduct a more reliable second test.

The official said the second test involved screening a specimen from deeper inside the nasal passage and — per White House policy — was taken only after a rapid-result test came out positive.

After Trump's diagnosis, a series of top Republicans also tested positive, and Trump reportedly told one aide who tested positive to conceal the result.

"Don't tell anyone," Trump said, a person familiar with the conversation told The Journal.

Trump's interview with Hannity helped push back a damaging news cycle that was ignited when Trump confirmed his diagnosis hours later.

The news will most likely add to skepticism about official statements from the White House about Trump's condition.

Officials over the weekend gave at times contradictory assessments of the president's health.

White House officials and medics at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where the president is being treated, have given optimistic assessments of the president's condition.

He is being treated with the drug dexamethasone, however, which is generally reserved for patients with more severe infections.

Reports have suggested that many of Trump's own officials remain in the dark as to his true condition.

In an effort to portray Trump as capable of carrying out his official duties and on the road to recovery, the White House has released pictures that appeared to show Trump hard at work in Walter Reed, which critics say appear to be staged.

The president also drove past supporters gathered outside the hospital on Sunday and waved at them through the window, in what a senior medic at Walter Reed criticized as a stunt that could endanger the lives of the Secret Service personnel in the vehicle with him.

thefirstmimzy on October 5th, 2020 at 12:03 UTC »

“My test results are under audit”

MockHeadline on October 5th, 2020 at 11:39 UTC »

I thought it might be interesting to see the narrative being released by the Herman Cain folks leading up to his covid death:

Jul 2

We are sorry to announce that Herman Cain has tested positive for COVID-19, and is currently receiving treatment in an Atlanta-area hospital.

Please keep him, and all who are battling this virus, in your prayers.

Our full statement appears below. Updates to follow.

https://twitter.com/THEHermanCain/status/1278735184893009921

Jul 2

Dan here: Herman has just begun the process of kicking COVID-19's ass. #Coronavirus #HermanCain https://hermancain.com/wouldnt-mind-pray-boss-covid-19-doesnt-know-messing/

Jul 5

Update: Herman wants to thank everyone for praying for him. It's making a difference. He's still in the hospital but he's making progress and we expect to hear more encouraging news as the week progresses. So thank you, everyone, and keep them coming! God is listening.

https://twitter.com/THEHermanCain/status/1279920774023913473

Jul 7

Herman asked us to let you know again how much he appreciates all your prayers. He's still in an Atlanta-area hospital, where doctors are trying to make sure his oxygen levels are right.

This is a tough virus, but we serve a tougher God. Herman wants to get back in action soon, so please continue praying.

https://twitter.com/THEHermanCain/status/1280515932620820480

Jul 10

Herman wants to once again thank everyone for your prayers. He describes the current process as "cruise control" because the progress is slow but his breathing is getting stronger every day.

Make no mistake: He is improving!

Please keep praying and know he loves you all.

https://twitter.com/THEHermanCain/status/1281666308791250947

Jul 15

We want to give you a quick update on the boss's progress battling his COVID symptoms. The doctors like the progress he's making - although it's still slow and requires much patience.

If he continues to progress at the same pace, they will probably get a little more proactive today about moving him to some new treatments. Also, he was irritated they wouldn't let him have a Snickers bar. That's our boss! Please keep praying for him.

https://twitter.com/THEHermanCain/status/1283431846374789121

Jul 27

We know it's been a few days since we last gave you an update on the boss. But he is still in the hospital being treated with oxygen for his lungs. In the meantime, the doctors say his other organs and systems are strong.

Re-strengthening the lungs is a long and slow process, and the doctors want to be thorough about it.

We'd like him to be able to come home now, which is frustrating, but we're glad the doctors are being thorough and making sure they do the job right. Thank you for praying, everyone. Please keep doing it. He really is getting better, which means it is working.

https://twitter.com/THEHermanCain/status/1287819710025916417

Jul 30 (Herman Cain dies from COVID)

You're never ready for the kind of news we are grappling with this morning. But we have no choice but to seek and find God's strength and comfort to deal... #HermanCain https://hermancain.com/heartbroken-world-poorer-herman-cain-gone-lord/

https://twitter.com/THEHermanCain/status/1288843301722890240

Aug 4

Lets clear up this ‘Herman was a COVID denier’ nonsense. https://hermancain.com/clear-herman-covid-denier-nonsense/

https://twitter.com/THEHermanCain/status/1290722109308768259

Onikojima on October 5th, 2020 at 10:50 UTC »

Accusing Biden of using a mask as a prop while using this illness as a prop himself. :P