CNN reporter attacks Trump for taking off mask while alone, outdoors. Trump campaign releases video of her doing the same thing.



The Trump campaign shredded a CNN reporter who insisted that President Donald Trump was reckless for taking his mask off while alone, outside, and on the balcony of his home.

A coronavirus-stricken Trump took to a White House balcony on Monday night following his release from Walter Reed Medical Center, took off his mask, and waved to the public in an apparent show of strength.

What are the details?

CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins drew quite a reaction on social media Monday night after issuing her complaints about the president's behavior following his release.

Speaking with CNN's Erin Burnett, Collins said, "[L]et us remind viewers now that the president is on steroids and a drug that fewer than 10 people outside of clinical trials have gotten inside the United States to deal with coronavirus. He had a level of treatment and a level of care that most Americans would not get. That's understandable — he is the President of the United States, obviously everyone expects that."

"[W]hat the president is portraying by taking his mask off when he gets back to the Truman balcony to give this grand return to the White House is that everything is fine and, as he said, don't let coronavirus control your life," she added. "But that is very much still a president who has coronavirus. Despite the lights and the flags and the staged entrance that the president wants to create, he still has coronavirus and he is only a few days into the diagnosis."

Collins also warned that the president still isn't even out of the woods with his diagnosis yet.

"And Erin, today, his doctor didn't reveal a lot of information as he hasn't for the past two days, but he did still say that he will not breathe a sigh of relief until Monday. That's a fully week from today."

Following the conversation with Burnett, Collins took to Twitter and shared a video clip of the president's grand return.

She captioned it, "Only days into his diagnosis, the first thing President Trump does when he gets back to the White House is take his mask off."

Collins' remarks drew the ire of many social media users, including that of conservative actress Kirstie Alley, but none more than the Trump campaign itself.

Only days into his diagnosis, the first thing President Trump does when he gets back to the White House is take his… https://t.co/QLl6bfyXFq
— Kaitlan Collins (@Kaitlan Collins)1601939875.0

What did the Trump campaign say?

In a now-viral video tweet of its own, the Trump campaign wrote, "CNN reporters like Kaitlin [sic] Collins obsess over masks when the cameras are on, but when they think they're off, off comes their masks!"

The video showed Collins immediately taking off her mask following an indoor White House briefing that took place earlier in the year.

At the time of this reporting, the Trump campaign's video has been viewed more than 4.4 million times.

CNN reporters like Kaitlin Collins obsess over masks when the cameras are on, but when they think they’re off, off… https://t.co/WeWy2Tb5wS
— Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022 (@Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022)1601941513.0

'Don't let it dominate you!': President Trump issues video message about coronavirus after returning to the White House



President Donald Trump issued a reassuring video message to Americans after returning to the White House on Monday from a stay at the Walter Reed Medical Clinic.

The president had a short photo op at the White House after he took off his mask, and then posted a video to his official social media account.

"I just left Walter Reed Medical Center, and it's really something very special. The doctors, the nurses, the first responders. And I learned so much about coronavirus," the president said.

https://t.co/OxmRcZ5nUZ
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1601942373.0

"And one thing that's for certain. Don't let it dominate you. Don't be afraid of it. You're gonna beat it. We have the best medical equipment, we have the best medicines. All developed recently," Trump continued.

"And you're gonna beat it. I went, I didn't feel so good. And two days ago, I could have left two days ago. Two days ago I felt great, like better than I have in a long time. I said just recently, better than 20 years ago. Don't let it dominate, don't let it take over your lives. Don't let that happen. We have the greatest country in the world," he added.

"We're going back. We're going back to work. We're going to be out front. As your leader, I had to do that. I knew there was danger to it, but I had to do it. I stood out front. I led. Nobody that's a leader would not do what I did. And I know there's a risk, there's a danger, and that's OK. And now I'm better, and maybe I'm immune, I don't know," the president said.

"But don't let it dominate your lives, get out there, be careful. We have the best medicines in the world. And they're all happened very shortly, and they're all getting approved. And the vaccines are coming, momentarily. Thank you very much," he concluded.

The president stunned the political world when he tweeted early Friday morning that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positively for the coronavirus. He was later taken to Walter Reed Medical Center out of an abundance of caution. The president's physician said that he was exhibiting mild symptoms and had received treatment for the coronavirus.

Here's the video of the president arriving at the White House:

Trump salutes Marine 1 after arriving back at the White Housewww.youtube.com

President Trump tweets he is leaving Walter Reed hospital tonight, feeling better than he did '20 years ago'



President Donald Trump announced that he would be leaving the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Monday evening after spending the weekend there for coronavirus treatment.

In a tweet Monday afternoon, the president, who was hospitalized Friday night after testing positive for COVID-19 and experiencing symptoms from the disease, said that he was "feeling really good."

"I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good!" Trump wrote." Don't be afraid of Covid. Don't let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!"

I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of C… https://t.co/fFk0atUvqI
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1601923041.0

The move followed a promising report on Sunday that the president could be discharged from the hospital Monday as long as his doctors determined his condition had "continued to improve."

Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley, Trump's physician, told reporters over the weekend that the president experienced predominantly mild symptoms of the virus, such as fever and fatigue. While he was administered supplemental oxygen Friday night, he has reportedly not required any supplemental oxygen since arriving at the medical facility.

According to doctors, the president was treated with Remedsivir, an experimental polyclonal antibody cocktail produced by Regeneron, the steroid dexamethasone, as well as zinc, vitamin D, melatonin, and aspirin during his hospitalization.

Trump reportedly remained largely upbeat during his three-day stay at the hospital and even ventured outside the hospital to surprise supporters gathered there Sunday afternoon.

The president will now presumably return to White House and begin conducting business from the Oval Office again as he continues to recover.

White House chief of staff says president might be discharged Monday, takes aim at critics upset that Trump briefly left hospital over the weekend



White House chief of staff Mark Meadows says that he and the administration are optimistic about President Donald Trump being able to return to the White House on Monday following his COVID-19 diagnosis.

Trump spent the weekend at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where he received treatment for the coronavirus infection.

Meadows also hit out at leftists and some of the media who seethed after the president briefly left the hospital on Sunday to greet supporters.

What are the details of a possible discharge?

Meadows told Fox News Monday morning that the president's health has improved overnight and that Trump is set to go back to a "normal working schedule."

"Spoke to the president this morning," he said. "He continued to improve overnight and is ready to get back to a normal working schedule. [Trump] will meet with his doctors and nurses this morning to make further assessments of his progress."

"We are still optimistic that he will be able to return to the White House later today, with his medical professionals making that determination later today," he added.

Meadows lauded the expertise of the doctors and medical professionals at Walter Reed.

"His treatment has been remarkable," Meadows said. "His strength has been incredible."

Meadows added that Trump is "not only understanding what millions of Americans have had to face as they've come in contact with this disease, but more importantly, the fact that we need to continue work on therapeutics."

The outlet added that Trump has received several doses of Remdisivir, an anti-viral drug, to combat the effects of the coronavirus.

What did he say about the outrage following Trump's trip outside?

Meadows ridiculed critics on Monday by pointing out the obvious: "How do they think he got here?"

"We came here on Marine One, the U.S. Secret Service agent that is with him has been with him, and yet we took additional precautions with PPE and others to make sure they were protected," Meadows explained Monday morning. "A number of folks are trying to make a big deal about that when I know myself and Secret Service details are with him everyday and want him to return to the White House as expeditiously as possible."

As TheBlaze reported on Monday, many of Trump's critics castigated the administration for what they said was the president putting people's lives at risk by leaving the medical facility.

"I would hope that if any harm comes to those agents the attorney general of MD will indict Trump for reckless endangerment, assault (yes the virus he gives off count), etc.," the Washington Post's Jennifer Rubin said in a now-viral tweet.

She later added, "The GOP is a death cult. There is only one pro-life party and it's not them."

Despite the criticism, Trump's temporary leave was approved.

"Appropriate precautions were taken in the execution of this movement to protect the President and all those supporting it, including PPE. The movement was cleared by the medical team as safe to do," Judd Deere, deputy White House press secretary, said in a statement following the move.

Ilhan Omar uses statement about Trump catching coronavirus to relentlessly attack the president



Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) used her statement about President Donald Trump testing positive for coronavirus to relentlessly attack the president and offered no sympathy.

"As someone who lost my own father to this virus and seen the pain it causes, I do not wish it on anyone," said Omar in the statement posted on Friday.

"Over 200,000 people have now died while this Administration actively ignores public health guidance and suppresses science. For months, we have been hoping for a simple acknowledgment from the President—to hear the words, 'We will get through this together.' And now we only hear those words when it is about him—not the hundreds of thousands of people who have lost their lives, and the millions whose families have been touched by it because of his malfeasance," she continued.

"Their cruelty is a direct threat to my constituents. This week, the President held a rally and fundraiser in Minnesota, flouting the guidance of his own health agencies by failing to wear a mask. In doing so, he exposed hundreds in a state that is already suffering from an uptick in cases," Omar said.

"Republican members of our Congressional delegation travelled with him on Air Force One and have not quarantined. In fact, they came to the Capitol today, risking the lives of additional elected leaders and staff," she continued.

"The President of the United States and Republicans in Minnesota are actively spreading a deadly virus," Omar concluded. "They are a risk to the public health of my constituents and our country."

Other Democratic leaders were not as negative as Omar. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that the country should pray for the well being of the president and the first lady.

The president revealed to the public in a tweet on Thursday that he had tested positive for coronavirus just hours after it was reported that his close aide Hope Hicks had tested positive earlier in the day.

Trump offered a short video to thank his supporters and inform them that he would be going to Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday out of an abundance of caution.

Since his diagnosis, other Republican leaders have also tested positive, including Ronna McDaniel, the chair of the Republican National Committee, and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah.).

Here's more about the reaction to the president's diagnosis:

Lawmakers react to President Trump having coronaviruswww.youtube.com

Twitter says they will suspend users wishing death on Trump, but Facebook will allow it as long as he isn't tagged in the comment



Two major social media platforms had decidedly different responses to numerous death wishes being made against President Donald Trump after he said that he tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.

When asked by Vice News about their policy related to death wishes against the president, Twitter said they would apply the same standard they have had about other death threats.

"Content that wishes, hopes or expresses a desire for death, serious bodily harm or fatal disease against an individual is against our rules," Twitter said in a statement on Friday.

Vice noted that Facebook makes a distinction between threats against public figures and those against private individuals.

Facebook has explained that the platform "distinguish[es] between public figures and private individuals because we want to allow discussion, which often includes critical commentary of people who are featured in the news or who have a large public audience."

To that end, they will take down posts that link the president in the comment containing a death wish, but not necessarily any other kind.

"For public figures, we remove attacks that are severe as well as certain attacks where the public figure is directly tagged in the post or comment," they said.

Twitter still allowed for the possibility of selective enforcement on the issue.

They added that they "won't take enforcement action on every Tweet," and instead will prioritize "the removal of content when it has a clear call to action that could potentially cause real-world harm."

Some less civil critics of the president have already taken to social media to wish harm on him and the first lady, while others have used the moment to crack jokes and quips at their expense.

The White House says the president and the first lady are experiencing mild symptoms from the coronavirus. Trump was sent to Walter Reed Medical Center out of an abundance of caution, and his live campaign events were canceled, or changed to virtual events.

Here's more about the reaction to Trump catching coronavirus:

Twitter users celebrate after Trump tests positive to COVIDwww.youtube.com

Editor-in-chief of Chinese state-run newspaper mocks President Trump's COVID diagnosis



An editor at one of China's state-run news outlets mocked President Donald Trump for contracting the coronavirus, according to a Friday report from the Daily Mail.

Trump announced in the early morning hours that he and his wife, first lady Melania Trump, tested positive for the virus, writing, "Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!"

What are the details?

Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of state-run paper the Global Times, reported the U.S. president's coronavirus diagnosis with "jeers," the Daily Mail reported Friday.

The editor of the Global Times — which, as the Daily Mail pointed out, is a "mouthpiece for the Communist party" — reported that Trump and the first lady "have paid the price" for downplaying the pandemic.

In the early days of the pandemic, China — where the deadly virus originated — reportedly concealed the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Hu, in the now-viral tweet, alleged that Trump's diagnosis highlights the severity of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States and said it is likely to sabotage the president's re-election bid.

In a Friday tweet, Hu wrote, "President Trump and the first lady have paid the price for his gamble to play down the COVID-19."

He added, "The news shows the severity of the US' pandemic situation. It will impose a negative impact on the image of Trump and the US and may also negatively affect his reelection."

It would appear that Hu has since deleted the tweet in question.

Image source: Wayback Machine screenshot

Later Friday, Hu retweeted well-wishes for the president and first lady, which said, "Saddened to learn #President and the #FirstLady of the #US tested positive. Hope they both have a speedy recovery and will be."

The tweet in question emerged from Hua Chunying, foreign ministry spokesperson.

'Controlled by the government'

According to Business Insider, Hu has been a decidedly outspoken critic of the the president and his administration. The outlet also describes the Global Times as a "purveyor of state-sponsored disinformation" which is published in both the Chinese and English languages.

In June, the U.S. Department of State designated the Global Times as a foreign mission that is "controlled by the government."

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tests positive for COVID-19, is in isolation



Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus, a spokesperson for the RNC told TheBlaze in a Friday statement.

What are the details?

The spokesperson told TheBlaze that McDaniel discovered her positive status on Wednesday after having been exposed to a family member who also tested positive for the virus.

The spokesperson noted that McDaniel has been at her Michigan home in self-isolation since Saturday.

A spokesperson for the RNC told TheBlaze in a Friday morning statement, "After a member of her family tested positive for COVID-19, the Chairwoman was tested for the virus. On Wednesday afternoon, she got confirmation she was COVID-19 positive. She has been at her home in Michigan since last Saturday."

The New York Times' Maggie Haberman reported that McDaniel had reportedly been in contact with President Donald Trump, who announced he tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday night, last week.

Haberman writes, "BREAKING — Ronna McDaniel, the RNC chairwoman, tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday, multiple sources say. She has mild symptoms. She was last with POTUS last Friday and has been in Michigan since then."

BREAKING - Ronna McDaniel, the RNC chairwoman, tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday, multiple sources s… https://t.co/qaMdQTxuDl
— Maggie Haberman (@Maggie Haberman)1601645226.0

Anything else?

On Friday, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, announced that they tested negative for COVID-19.

Devin O'Malley, press secretary for the vice president, announced the news in a Friday morning statement, writing, "As has been routine for months, Vice President Pence is tested for COVID-19 every day. This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19. Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery."

As has been routine for months, Vice President Pence is tested for COVID-19 every day. This morning, Vice President… https://t.co/q78DrWjDtX
— Devin O’Malley (@Devin O’Malley)1601639548.0

Former Vice President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden is reportedly set to be tested on Friday, following the appearance at Tuesday night's presidential debate alongside the president and his family.