US election 2020: Trump able to return to public occasions, says physician

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Reuters

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President Trump is said to have reacted “very well” to his treatment with Covid

US President Donald Trump has completed his treatment for Covid-19 and can return to public engagements this weekend, his doctor said.

Dr. Sean Conley said the president responded “very well” to drugs and “remained stable”.

Mr Trump later said he would likely do another Covid test on Friday, hoping to hold a rally over the weekend.

The president had previously withdrawn from the televised debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden next Thursday.

He said he would “not waste my time on a virtual debate” after organizers said it would have to be done remotely as Mr Trump tested positive for coronavirus.

The move sparked a series on how and when further debates would take place.

Meanwhile, House spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi, the most powerful Democrat in Washington, announced legislation on Friday to set up a committee to assess the suitability of a president for office.

Ms. Pelosi said it was not intended to rule on Mr. Trump’s condition.

A statement accompanying this move states that the commission will be set up under the 25th Amendment, which sets out how a seated president can be stripped of power if he is deemed unable to perform the duties of the To exercise office.

Serious review of the measure is unlikely, but will serve as a policy tool to ask questions about Mr Trump’s health.

Mr Trump called Ms. Pelosi “crazy” and said she was “the one who should be watched”.

Why is the 25th amendment being discussed?

The amendment was introduced after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to address issues related to the delegation of powers of the president.

The Democrats are focusing on one clause – Section 4 – that allows a president to be removed from office against their will for physical or mental disabilities.

The president’s powers were already temporarily transferred – for example, when Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in 1981 and George HW Bush took over – but Section 4 was never used.

The amendment says it can only be used if the Vice President plus a majority of the 15 US Cabinet Secretaries or another body like Congress approves. Even then, the President can appeal.

It appears that the Democrats – who will meet later on Friday – plan to put in place the mechanisms that would allow Congress to decide whether the president cannot exercise its powers.

But really, it is seen as a political move to ask questions about Mr Trump’s health. There is no sign that Vice President Mike Pence would approve them and little time for legislation to move the commission forward.

Ms. Pelosi previewed the legislation on Thursday, telling reporters that serious questions regarding Mr. Trump’s health remained unanswered, describing the president as in “an altered state”.

On Friday, Ms. Pelosi said it was “not about President Trump” who “will face the judgment of the voters”.

“This legislation applies to future presidents, but we are reminded of the need that the current president’s health requires action.”

What’s the latest on Trump’s health?

Speaking on Fox News late Thursday, Mr Trump said he was “feeling really good” and was hoping to hold a campaign rally on Saturday night, possibly in Florida.

The President could also be heard clearing his throat and coughing during the interview. At one point he seemed to mute his microphone after clearing his throat.

Mr. Trump is also slated for a televised “medical evaluation” on Fox News on Friday.

The network confirmed that Mr. Trump will appear on camera for his first on-camera interview since his diagnosis at 8:00 p.m. (1:00 a.m.CET) and be subject to Dr. Mark Siegel, a Fox employee, would undergo.

Earlier this week, White House doctor Dr. Conley said that if the president’s condition stays the same or improves throughout the weekend and into Monday, “we shall all take that last, deep sigh of relief.”

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The White House is still trying to deal with a Covid-19 outbreak

Although the names of many people who have interacted with the President and tested positive are known, it is unclear how many were exposed in the White House. There are new Covid security measures there.

One of the top Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said Thursday he hasn’t been to the White House since Aug. 6 because his approach to treating Covid with social distancing and masks was “different from mine and what I suggested. ” the Senate”.

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Why the focus on Trump’s tests?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend self-isolating for 10 days after a positive test. The CDC also says isolation could end sooner after “two consecutive negative test results from tests performed at least 24 hours apart”.

The question remains when the president was first infected and whether he could still be contagious.

In a memo released by the White House Thursday night, Dr. Conley, Mr. Trump has shown no evidence “that the disease is suspected to be progressing”.

“Saturday has been day 10 since then [last] Thursday’s diagnosis and based on the history of advanced diagnostics the team has conducted, I fully anticipate the president’s safe return to public engagement at this point, “added the memo.

Mr Trump avoided asking questions when speaking to Fox News on Thursday about whether he had recently been tested, but said he would likely be tested on Friday.

We know that Mr Trump tested positive for Covid-19 last Thursday night, according to his doctors. However, we don’t know when his last negative test was. On Monday, Dr. Conley also questions about this.

As a result, some have wondered if the President is even being tested on a regular basis.

What’s wrong with the debate series?

The back and forth between the two campaigns during the next presidential debate began when the Debate Commission announced that the next meeting would have to take place virtually.

Mr Trump refused to attend.

Mr Biden has suggested that the format of the town hall debate scheduled for next week should instead take place during the third debate on October 22nd.

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Joe Biden: “You never know what will come out of your mouth”

The Trump team responded that a third face-to-face debate would take place five days before election day on October 29th – an idea that the Biden campaign rejected.

  • Who met Trump and who tested positive?

On Thursday, Mr Trump’s campaign said the president was ready to meet Mr Biden in person on October 15, as originally planned.

The campaign added that Mr Trump would be given medical clearance days beforehand, meaning there would be “no medical reason” why the debate would have to be virtual.

Currently, Mr. Biden plans to attend his own primetime event on ABC and answer questions from voters in place of the October 15 debate.

  • US election 2020: who is ahead – Trump or Biden?
  • What did we learn from the VP debate?

The US elections will take place on November 3rd.

Recent opinion polls suggest that Mr Biden’s lead has increased since the president’s chaotic initial debate and coronavirus diagnosis.

Six million ballots have already been cast in the early voting.

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