The White House first learned of Hope Hicks’ positive coronavirus test as the president was leaving Washington for New Jersey On Thursday, according to Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Despite the fact that Hicks and Trump had traveled together recently, the decision was made for Trump to continue on with the trip.
The president held a fundraiser gave a speech at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Trump did not wear a mask. The New York Times writes:
The president has had what one person described as cold-like symptoms. At the fund-raiser on Thursday, where one attendee said the president came in contact with about 100 people, he seemed lethargic.
A person briefed on the matter said that Mr. Trump had fallen asleep at one point on Air Force One on the way back from a rally in Minnesota on Wednesday night.
Mother Jones spoke to someone who attended the fundraiser at Trump’s club: “Trump mingled with the crowd of about 150 donors, at one point going table-to-table to shake hands with attendees, according to the source, who asked not to be identified. This behavior is typical for Trump when he visits the club—members often approach him to shake hands and chat. But this time, Trump may have been contagious.”
The White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, reportedly didn’t learn of Hicks’ diagnosis until Thursday afternoon. Nonetheless it wasn’t disclosed to the press. It wasn’t confirmed until Thursday evening, when Jennifer Jacobs of Bloomberg first broke the story.
Soon after Trump acknowledged Hicks’ diagnosis. It was just a few hours later that he confirmed he and Melania Trump had tested positive.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has urged anyone who attended the Trump fundraiser to get a COVID test.
