EDITORIAL: Trump Pre-Hospitalization Timeline
By D. S. Mitchell
In The Early Morning Hours
I had gone to bed late Thursday (10/01/20) night and was sort of watching TV while sort of dozing. It was early a.m. Friday (10/02/20) on the west coast, when Kaisie Hunt, on her show “Way Too Early,” made a dramatic announcement. Close advisor to the president, Hope Hicks had tested positive for Coronavirus. The name of Hope Hicks caused me to sit up and take notice. Over the next couple hours information dribbled in; and eventually we got word that Donald J. Trump, president of the United States had tested positive for COVID-19. Yikes and oh, my! I got up and made a cup of coffee. I knew I had to hit Twitter. Where the prevailing sentiment seemed to be, “Wouldn’t it be funny if Trump died from COVID-19?” and “big surprise, he doesn’t even wear a mask or social distance.”
Prayers And Best Wishes
Okay, I have to admit I have a greater than normal share of cynicism. I nearly barfed when I heard all the TV hosts wishing the president “health and happiness” and the proverbial “thoughts and prayers.” I know, I know. Be nice. But, really… here is a man holding super spreader rallies, Rose Garden COVID-19 parties, insulting Biden and others for mask wearing, undermining the postal service, threatening our very democracy, refused to admit he would give up power if he loses the election, has in my view at least, encouraged armed insurrection, and I am now supposed to say, “oh, poor Donnie.” To be blunt, fuck that shit! I will not.
Trump Timeline
The Trump White House has zero credibility. The timeline released by the Trump Administration appears to be a lie. No surprise. Obviously, the White House wanted to keep secret the fact that one of President Trump’s closest advisor’s tested positive for coronavirus. This is what appears to have happened. Tuesday-(09/29/20) Hope Hicks along with other Trump team members travel to Cleveland for the first presidential debate. Wednesday-(09/30/20) Hicks along with Trump and others travel to Minnesota for a rally. During the return trip Hicks became ill. She self-isolated on Air Force One. Thursday-(10/01/20) Hicks receives a positive test result.
It Gets Worse
Reports suggest that it wasn’t only Hicks that felt poorly, but also Donald Trump himself. He cut his rally short Wednesday night and appeared to be “fatigued.” It is clear that Trump was aware that Hicks had tested positive for COVID-19 when he flew with Melania to his a New Jersey golf club to host a fundraiser on Thursday afternoon. Such behavior is outrageous, even if those Trump intends to infect are his own supporters. And if the Hicks results had remained secret would Trump have admitted to testing positive? Being the cynical left winger that I am, I think Trump would have continued to infect multiple people until he became symptomatic and could no longer carry on the con.
Did You Hear?
Symptoms usually develop 2 to 14 days after exposure. The question of course then becomes, if Trump and everyone around him are actually being tested daily, how could he have been showing notable symptoms on Wednesday (09/30/20) but not received a positive test result until the wee hours of Friday (10/01/20)? If in fact, both the president and Hope Hicks were displaying symptoms on Wednesday (09/30/20) their exposure could have been no later than Monday (09/28/20). That would explain why Pence who previously has resisted social distancing from Trump was seriously taking that position on Monday (09/28/20) Then on Tuesday (09/29/20) the president was “too late” to the debate with Biden to take the test as required. Trump’s pre-debate test was waived. Troublesome to say the least.
Likely Timing Of Exposure
There are two likely exposure events. The previous Friday (09/25/20) evening. Trump was in Newport News, Virginia, rallying his supporters. This rally was conducted at the airport and Trump remained close to Air Force One. It is notable that Pence was standing right next to Trump mask-less at that event. At this point, neither one is acting as if the other was exposed.
Finger Pointing
Some believe the more likely source of exposure was Saturday (09/26/20) because of a large mask-free ceremony that involved a whole lot of close-up contact. Trump packed the Rose Garden with Republican supporters to introduce Amy Coney Barrett in his effort to fast track a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Many believe this was the source of infection. But then of course there was a Gold Star Family Event on Sunday (09/27/20). Trump has hinted that it was the Gold Star Families that gave him the virus.
Pence Backs Off
By Monday (09/28/20) Trump and Pence were obviously distancing themselves from one another, which suggests that by this point they were already aware that Trump had been exposed. As Daily Kos staff writer Mark Sumner reported, “In fact, by Monday (09/28/20) afternoon, Trump may have tested positive, because if he was really getting a daily test, that result would have been expected before he began displaying symptoms on Wednesday (09/30/20). What the evidence strongly suggests is that Trump was infected days earlier than his test result, no later than Monday (09/28/20), which was the day before (Tuesday 09/29/20) he snorted and shouted across from Biden for 90 minutes.”
Shocking
The suggested timeline is shocking and outrageous. It tells us that Trump knew he had been exposed to someone with COVID-19 but chose to engage in large public gatherings, without social distancing or bothering to wear a mask. That means anyone and everyone who travelled with or interacted with Trump since Monday (09/28/20) afternoon should be in self-quarantine.
Joy Ride To No Where
Since then, today, as a matter of fact, Trump left Walter Reed Medical Center to participate in a ridiculous tax payer paid motorcade. Some called it a “joy ride” so Trump could wave to his supporters who lined the street in front of the hospital. Did Trump think for one minute about the possible exposure of Secret Service agents protecting him? If there has been any doubt about the immorality of this president there need be no more debate. Trump is totally immoral.
