Hugs and handshakes in Rose Garden blamed for infecting President
IT WAS supposed to be a triumphal moment in Donald Trump’s presidency – the anointing of a new conservative judge to America’s highest court.
But t he ceremony l ast Saturday to announce the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court in front of 200 of Mr Trump’s closest family, aides and supporters has now been identified as the likely ‘super-spreader’ event which has left at least 11 people infected with coronavirus.
A jubilant Mr Trump hastily arranged the event in the White House Rose Garden after picking Judge Barrett to replace liberal feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last month.
Guests were seen hugging and embracing after the five-minute ceremony, with barely anyone wearing face masks or following social distancing rules.
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, a close friend of
‘Air kisses and people breathing on each other’
the President, was photographed d embracing several guests and givv ing them what one onlooker called ‘huge bear hugs’.
Last night, Mr Christie, who spent nt last Sunday and Monday preparing g Mr Trump for Tuesday’s presidenntial debate, announced he too has tested positive for the virus.
Others at the event who have gone down with Covid- 19 include the President’s former special adviser Kellyanne Conway, Senator Mike Lee of Utah and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina – both of whom are on the judiciary committee which needs to swear in the new judge, something that Mr Trump has promised to do before the November 3 election.
John Jenkins, the president of Indiana’s University of Notre Dame, where Judge Barrett studied and taught, is also infected, as is Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien.
Three journalists covering the event have tested positive. A White House spokesman confirmed contact tracing is being used to identify everyone who was in the Rose Garden. Vice-President Mike Pence, who has tested negative, will be retested, as will Trump’s daughter and sons who were there.
An attendee who declined to give his name said: ‘They didn’t even socially distance the chairs. Hardly anyone was wearing a mask. After the press conference to formally introduce the judge, everyone got up and there were hugs, blackslapping, lots of air kisses and people staring around chatting and breathing on each other. Chris Christie was walking around giving everyone huge bear hugs.’
Mr Trump has long been criticised for refusing to wear a mask and for holding large campaign rallies in violation of rules set out by his own medical advisers.
‘He thought he was invincible but the past 24 hours have really shaken up everyone in his immediate circle,’ a White House source said. ‘People are freaking out and rushing off to get tested and self-isolating. The West Wing has emptied out.
‘ The Rose Garden ceremony was supposed to be a highlight of Trump’s presidency but now history will remember it as the moment Trump most likely contracted the virus. There seems little doubt that the Rose Garden was Ground Zero for this outbreak.’
Judge Barrett, a mother-of-seven, has tested negative but confirmed she had Covid-19 over the summer and could still have immunity.
The hearings for her confirmation are due to start on October 13 but insiders say the fact that two members of the judiciary committee have the virus means the hearings are likely to be delayed.
Mr Jenkins apologised for not wearing a mask. ‘I failed to lead by example at a time when I’ve asked everyone in the campus community to do so,’ he said.
America’s Centers for Disease Control, which is spearheading the US fight against the pandemic, said symptoms generally appear two to 14 days after exposure.
‘The Rose Garden patients fell ill within that window,’ a source said.
New York Times reporter Michael Shear, who tested positive on Friday, said: ‘I knew there was risk involved in covering the President. That said, I wish the White House had taken some of the recommendations the CDC has been talking about for months.’