U.S. President Donald Trump talks to journalists while hosting Prime Minister of Ireland Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office at the White House March 12, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
President Donald Trump has tested negative for the coronavirus, according to the White House physician.
Trump opted to take the test after the press secretary for Brazil’s president tested positive for the virus. Trump dined with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his press secretary at Mar-a-Lago. Bolsonaro said Friday that he tested negative for the virus.
Trump had said earlier Saturday that he had taken a test for the coronavirus and was awaiting results. He said he had decided he would do so after a press conference Friday. At the press conference, reporters pressed him on whether he would take a test.
According to the note from the White House physician, “last night after an in-depth discussion with the President regarding COVID-19 testing, he elected to proceed.”
“This evening,” the White House physician said, “I received confirmation that the test is negative.”
The White House physician added that he has been in “daily contact” with the Center for Disease Control and White House Coronavirus Task Force.
“We are encouraging the implementation of all their best practices for exposure reduction and transmission mitigation,” he said.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
