'Feeling great,' Trump appears in public for first time since return from hospital

By Andrea Shalal

 

U.S. President Donald Trump stands on a White House balcony speaking to supporters gathered on the South Lawn for a campaign rally that the White House is calling a "peaceful protest" in Washington, U.S., October 10, 2020. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boasting about his achievements and hurling unsubstantiated allegations against his opponents, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared back to his old self as he addressed supporters at the White House in his first public event since being diagnosed with COVID-19.

 

Standing alone and not wearing a mask, the Republican president spoke from a White House balcony at an event called "a peaceful protest for law & order," urging a crowd of hundreds of largely Black and Latino supporters to help get out the vote in the Nov. 3 presidential election.

 

His appearance - amid continued questions over whether he is still contagious - is seen as a first step toward resuming full campaigning next week. He is due to go to Florida, Pennsylvania, and Iowa, on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, respectively.

 

Speaking firmly and without hesitation, Trump delivered a shorter-than-usual campaign speech, hailing his record in fighting crime and boosting the U.S. economy, while slamming Democrats as supporters cheered. A flesh-colored bandage was visible on his right hand.

 

"I'm feeling great," he told the crowd.

 

Those gathered were wearing masks, although most failed to observe social distancing guidelines.

 

It was the first time Trump had appeared in public since he was released from a three-night stay in hospital on Monday, when some observers watching his return to the White House said he appeared at times to be short of breath.

 

The White House has released videos and Trump has called into television shows since then, but this was supporters' first chance to see the president live.

 

The White House has not released the results of Trump's latest COVID-19 test and has declined to say when he last tested negative. Trump first revealed that he had had a positive test on Oct. 2 and on Thursday said he was no longer contagious, which some experts say is unlikely.

 

The White House last gave a public assessment of Trump's health status on Thursday when the president's doctor, Dr Sean Conley, said in a memo that Trump had completed his course of therapy for the coronavirus, had responded "extremely well" to treatment, and cleared him for public engagements.

 

On Friday, a White House spokeswoman said Trump would be tested for COVID-19 and would not go out in public if it was determined he could still spread the virus.

 

PANDEMIC HANDLING

 

Trump delivered a wide-ranging speech that touched on scrapping former President Barack Obama's 'Obamacare' healthcare reform law, criminal justice reform, and the state of the economy.

 

But opinion polls increasingly show that as Election Day approaches, voters see Nov. 3 as a chance to cast a vote on Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 210,000 Americans.

 

The Trump administration has faced widespread criticism for its handling of the pandemic, as well as for a lax approach to mask-wearing and social distancing in the White House and - in recent days - confusing messages about how ill the president has been.

 

Trump repeated past calls for states to reopen their economies even as new cases of COVID-19 hit a two-month high on Friday. A Reuters analysis showed that there were over 58,000 infections reported and hospitalizations in the Midwest hit record levels for a fifth day in a row.

 

Democrats and some commentators criticized Saturday's White House event for potentially exposing a new batch of supporters to the virus and for using a federal building as an election prop.

 

Asked about it in New Castle, Delaware, Biden said he hoped that Trump and his supporters were taking precautions.

"They should be socially distant and wearing masks," he said. "It's the only responsible thing to do."

 

Republican Tom McCullagh, who is running for a state senate seat in Illinois and flew to Washington for Trump's event, said he was not worried about catching the virus.

 

"If the president felt it was safe enough for him to hold a rally, I trust his judgment," McCullagh told Reuters.

 

McCullagh wore a mask and kept his distance from other participants but said he and a friend did not have their temperature taken before entering the White House grounds. Sources familiar with planning for the event had said that all participants would be screened for possible COVID-19 symptoms and have their temperature taken.

 

(Reporting by James Oliphant and Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Tim Reid; Writing by James Oliphant and Raphael Satter; Editing by Ross Colvin and Rosalba O'Brien)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-11

 

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What's the opposite of thoughts & prayers? Asking for a friend.

what a <deleted> idiot.  He is still infectious and goes around insisting he is cured, endangering everyone around him

2 minutes ago, LeamchabangLarry said:

what a <deleted> idiot.  He is still infectious and goes around insisting he is cured, endangering everyone around him

That sound you hear is the last gasp of desperation before indictment, trial and eventual imprisonment

2 minutes ago, tonray said:

That sound you hear is the last gasp of desperation before indictment, trial and eventual imprisonment

I see an orange jumpsuit wardrobe in his future.  One to match the makeup on his face

He got the all important Bin Laden and Taliban endorsements, so there is NOTHING stopping him now.

 

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/osama-bin-ladens-niece-endorses-trump

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taliban-on-trump-we-hope-he-will-win-the-election-withdraw-us-troops/

 

Me think his days are numbered, it's pity though that the alternative to him is nothing to write home about either...

29 minutes ago, J Town said:

What's the opposite of thoughts & prayers? Asking for a friend.

Reality

But that's obviously something Trump and his supporters don't like.

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

A flesh-colored bandage was visible on his right hand.

 

Can you get Orange bandages ?must be special order.

regards Worgeordie

He feel great, nice! Now to help other people test all every day, if infected fly them whit helicopter to private room in hospital! And give everybody 10 doctors eatch, also same medicine what you get.

Then all can go wave they "own" palcany whitout mask!

 

An video from an unapproved source has been removed.  

 

I didn't hear enough 'tremendous's', he must be lying.

 

Trump's judgement has been proven wrong, so wrong he even contracted it himself. But still a US representative thinks he can trust his judgement regarding covid?

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Standing alone and not wearing a mask, the Republican president spoke from a White House balcony at an event called "a peaceful protest for law & order," urging a crowd of hundreds of largely Black and Latino supporters to help get out the vote in the Nov. 3 presidential election.

 Standing alone  after taking off his mask  the POTUS spoke from the balcony of the white house to mostly black and Hispanic  large crowd at a “peaceful protest for law & order.” as they chanted, "We Love You", We Love You" and Usa! Usa !Usa!

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-peaceful-protest-law-order/

 

 

https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/10/10/trump-makes-first-public-appearance-since-his-hospital-stay

 

Edited October 11, 20205 yr by riclag

1 hour ago, J Town said:

What's the opposite of thoughts & prayers? Asking for a friend.

Shakespeare has the answer:

"Scorn and defiance, slight regard, contempt..." 

Henry V, Act 2, Scene 3.

 

Amazing how prescient he was.

2 hours ago, J Town said:

What's the opposite of thoughts & prayers? Asking for a friend.

Given context, the gist of it would probably be -wishing an old man ill health because he holds differing opinions from yourself? 

The WH is refusing to release the date of the last negative test. I think with good reason, looking at the timeline I am convinced he was already positive at the time of the debate. So he was knowingly risking his family's health at that point. That angered Don Jr. so much he vented that anger in public.

4 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Given context, the gist of it would probably be -wishing an old man ill health because he holds differing opinions from yourself? 

Old man, what old man?

36 minutes ago, riclag said:

Standing alone  after taking off his mask  the POTUS spoke from the balcony of the white house to mostly black and Hispanic  large crowd at a “peaceful protest for law & order.” as they chanted, "We Love You", We Love You" and Usa! Usa !Usa!

At this desperate stage, he'll take anything he can get!

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Me think his days are numbered, it's pity though that the alternative to him is nothing to write home about either...

Oh come on man. Any random Uber driver looks great compared to Commander Super Spreader. Biden is probably much better than any random Uber driver. So there!

Edited October 11, 20205 yr by Jingthing

13 minutes ago, stevenl said:

The WH is refusing to release the date of the last negative test. I think with good reason, looking at the timeline I am convinced he was already positive at the time of the debate. So he was knowingly risking his family's health at that point. That angered Don Jr. so much he vented that anger in public.

Young or old, it's like the USA went out of its way to make one of the worst human beings that has ever been American our president. This madness has got to end soon!

 

I get it. The cult 45 members love him. We're going to have to live with them after he is evicted. Biden is actually well positioned to be a healer and bring some kind of unity (relatively).

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-coronivirus-kim/2020/10/10/d355df9e-0b0b-11eb-a166-dc429b380d10_story.html

Quote

 

‘A Dear Leader approach’: Trump’s critics compare his shows of strength around coronavirus to authoritarian tactics

 

President Trump was boarding Marine One at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a televised flight back to the White House on Monday when CNN analyst Brian Stelter called the dramatic images a “performative show of strength” from a president sickened by the coronavirus.

“This is the kind of thing you see from strongmen who want to appear to be leading — it’s a ‘Dear Leader’ sort of approach,” Stelter said, referring to the moniker of the late North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il.

 

 

47 minutes ago, riclag said:

 Standing alone  after taking off his mask  the POTUS spoke from the balcony of the white house to mostly black and Hispanic  large crowd at a “peaceful protest for law & order.” as they chanted, "We Love You", We Love You" and Usa! Usa !Usa!

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-peaceful-protest-law-order/

 

 

https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/10/10/trump-makes-first-public-appearance-since-his-hospital-stay

<snipped>

Boy did you fall for that one:

 

Candace Owens' BLEXIT group pays for some attendees' travel to Trump's White House event

 

Some guests for Saturday's White House event on the South Lawn, which will be President Donald Trump's first since testing positive for the coronavirus, had their travel and lodging paid for by controversial conservative activist Candace Owens' group BLEXIT, according to emails obtained by ABC News.

Supporters, who are also scheduled to attend a separate BLEXIT event earlier in the day, were invited to attend a "HUGE outdoor rally" by the group and asked to fill out a form that notified them that BLEXIT, a campaign urging Black Americans to leave the Democratic Party, will be covering travel costs.

 

Guests were later informed they would be receiving an invitation from the White House to attend an event with Trump.

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/candace-owens-blexit-group-pays-attendees-travel-trumps/story?id=73531036

7 minutes ago, Credo said:

Boy did you fall for that one:

 

Candace Owens' BLEXIT group pays for some attendees' travel to Trump's White House event

 

Some guests for Saturday's White House event on the South Lawn, which will be President Donald Trump's first since testing positive for the coronavirus, had their travel and lodging paid for by controversial conservative activist Candace Owens' group BLEXIT, according to emails obtained by ABC News.

Supporters, who are also scheduled to attend a separate BLEXIT event earlier in the day, were invited to attend a "HUGE outdoor rally" by the group and asked to fill out a form that notified them that BLEXIT, a campaign urging Black Americans to leave the Democratic Party, will be covering travel costs.

 

Guests were later informed they would be receiving an invitation from the White House to attend an event with Trump.

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/candace-owens-blexit-group-pays-attendees-travel-trumps/story?id=73531036

Thanks for that. I don't see any problems though.

8 minutes ago, Credo said:

Boy did you fall for that one:

 

Candace Owens' BLEXIT group pays for some attendees' travel to Trump's White House event

 

Some guests for Saturday's White House event on the South Lawn, which will be President Donald Trump's first since testing positive for the coronavirus, had their travel and lodging paid for by controversial conservative activist Candace Owens' group BLEXIT, according to emails obtained by ABC News.

Supporters, who are also scheduled to attend a separate BLEXIT event earlier in the day, were invited to attend a "HUGE outdoor rally" by the group and asked to fill out a form that notified them that BLEXIT, a campaign urging Black Americans to leave the Democratic Party, will be covering travel costs.

 

Guests were later informed they would be receiving an invitation from the White House to attend an event with Trump.

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/candace-owens-blexit-group-pays-attendees-travel-trumps/story?id=73531036

 

From your article

"When reached for comment, Owens told ABC News, "We are not interested in participating in your obvious media angle here to slander/attack the President regarding Covid-19." She added that Saturday's event "is about supporting law enforcement in minority communities." It is not immediately clear how many of those set to attend the event had their travel costs covered''.

 

 

21 minutes ago, Credo said:

Boy did you fall for that one:

 

Candace Owens' BLEXIT group pays for some attendees' travel to Trump's White House event

 

Some guests for Saturday's White House event on the South Lawn, which will be President Donald Trump's first since testing positive for the coronavirus, had their travel and lodging paid for by controversial conservative activist Candace Owens' group BLEXIT, according to emails obtained by ABC News.

Supporters, who are also scheduled to attend a separate BLEXIT event earlier in the day, were invited to attend a "HUGE outdoor rally" by the group and asked to fill out a form that notified them that BLEXIT, a campaign urging Black Americans to leave the Democratic Party, will be covering travel costs.

 

Guests were later informed they would be receiving an invitation from the White House to attend an event with Trump.

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/candace-owens-blexit-group-pays-attendees-travel-trumps/story?id=73531036

I have no problem at all with African-Americans and Hispanics who are Republicans and support conservative principles.  But someone needs to tell Ms. Owens that Trump is not a conservative and has no principles. 

47 minutes ago, stevenl said:

The WH is refusing to release the date of the last negative test. I think with good reason, looking at the timeline I am convinced he was already positive at the time of the debate. So he was knowingly risking his family's health at that point. That angered Don Jr. so much he vented that anger in public.

His doctor has just announced that Trump tested negative in the last 24 hours but still refused to say when his previous negative test was.

1 hour ago, riclag said:

 Standing alone  after taking off his mask  the POTUS spoke from the balcony of the white house to mostly black and Hispanic  large crowd at a “peaceful protest for law & order.” as they chanted, "We Love You", We Love You" and Usa! Usa !Usa!

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-peaceful-protest-law-order/

 

 

https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/10/10/trump-makes-first-public-appearance-since-his-hospital-stay

 

 

And yet another gathering at the White House. No social distancing observed. A distinct shortage of masks on faces can be observed. Lead by example is not a thing with this President and his administration.

 

The first sentence refers to "unsubstantiated allegations", but there is nothing further in this text of the article about that, so it's impossible to know what they are talking about.

"a peaceful protest for law & order," uh, right

The Hatch Act generally prohibits Federal employees from engaging in political activities while on duty, in a Government room or building, while wearing an official uniform, or while using a Government vehicle.

Doesn't include Pres or VP

Would this mean all the staff, secret service, etc were in violation?

Trump seems to be all in for law and order unless it includes his backers and fans

Trump may be feeling relatively great in a physical sense but sick at heart over the number of GOP members who in the campaign battle to survive their own positions are trying to avoid even mention of his name or even expressing critical comment in late attempt to salvage some lost esteem.

That Trump in his latest abuse in use of the White House as a campaign venue has now, in a disconnected claim, "And selling you out to the rich, globalist Wall Street donors. They have the Wall Street donors. They want the Wall Street donors. Someday, somebody is going to have to write a little story about that."

Likely to be a  very very short  story with an obvious  ending.

 

 

Edited October 11, 20205 yr by Dumbastheycome
added

4 hours ago, LeamchabangLarry said:

I see an orange jumpsuit wardrobe in his future.  One to match the makeup on his face

On the contrary, you are envisioning Hillary Clinton. ????