Trump’s hospital drive- by criticised by doctor
President‘ isreadytoget backtowork’, aidesclaim
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s brief venture out in a motorcade to salute cheering supporters outside the hospital where he is being treated for Covid- 19 has been described as “insanity” by one expert.
Mr Trump briefly left hospital in a car to wave to supporters after doctors said he could be discharged as early as last night.
Secret Service agents inside the vehicle could be seen in masks and other protective gear.
The president’s journey came shortly after he promised his supporters “a surprise” in a video posted on Twitter.
“This is insanity,” said Dr James P Phillips, an attending physician at Walter Reed, where Mr Trump has been treated since Friday evening.
“Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘ drive- by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die.”
“For political theatre,” the doctor added on Twitter. “Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theatre.”
Hours earlier, Mr Trump’s medical team reported that his blood oxygen level dropped suddenly
twice in recent days and that they gave him a steroid typically only recommended for the very sick. Still, the doctors said Mr Trump’s health is improving and that he could be discharged as early as last night.
“This is an important day as the president continues to improve and is ready to get back to a normal work schedule,” White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told Fox News.
He said the determination on
whether Mr Trump would leave the hospital will not be made until later in the day after the president is evaluated by his medical team, but that Mr Trump was “optimistic” he could be released.
With one month until election day in the US, Mr Trump was eager to project strength despite his illness.
The still- infectious president surprised supporters who had gathered outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre,
driving by in a black vehicle with the windows rolled up.
The move capped a weekend of contradictions that fuelled confusion about Mr Trump’s health,
which has imperilled the leadership of the US government and upended the final stages of the presidential campaign.
While Mr Trump’s physician offered a rosy prognosis on his condition, his briefings lacked basic information, including the findings of lung scans, or were quickly muddled by more serious assessments of the president’s health by other officials.
In a short video released by the White House on Sunday, Mr
Trump insisted he understood the gravity of the moment.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said Mr Trump’s trip outside the hospital “was cleared by the medical team as safe to do”.
He added that precautions were taken, including using personal protective equipment, to protect Mr Trump as well as White House officials and Secret Service agents. Democrat challenger Joe Biden tested negative for Covid yesterday,
Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theatre. Dr James P Phillips, physician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre.