Coughing Trump suggests he may never even have had coronavirus in Fox News interview: 'They found very little, if any'
Trump hoping to hold rallies in Florida and Pennsylvania as soon as this weekend
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.President Donald Trump hinted that he might not have even been infected with coronavirus on Thursday night, even as he repeatedly coughed and paused during an interview with Fox News.
Mr Trump said during the phone interview that he hoped to hold an election rally as soon as Saturday night in Florida, and that he hoped to follow that up with one in Pennsylvania - two potentially crucial swing states.
The president returned to the White House earlier this week after being treated for Covid-19 at the Walter Reed Medical Center, thrusting his health condition into the heart of the debate with the 2020 election less than a month away.
After he was asked a second time on Fox News whether he has undergone a follow-up test since being diagnosed, Mr Trump said that “probably the test will be tomorrow (on Friday)".
“Because there is no reason to test all the time … they found very little infection or virus, if any – I didn't know they found any … I didn't go into it greatly with the doctors,” said Mr Trump, while adding that he thinks “they (doctors) are amazed at how quickly this went.”
The president remarked that he feels he is the most “analysed human being in the world right now.”
Mr Trump said he saw doctors on Thursday, adding that he felt he was in great shape and that he would hold the rally in Florida “if it can be put together” in time.
“I just saw the doctors today … I am in great shape. I took this Regeneron, it’s phenomenal. If you go back a few months nobody even thought about this stuff. We came up with it. I am going to have it delivered to every hospital [where] we have sick people with the Covid. We are going to make people better. It actually made me better,” said Mr Trump.
Meanwhile, in a statement on Thursday, the president’s doctors said he was cleared to restart public engagements. Dr Sean Conley said Mr Trump has not shown any symptoms of coronavirus since leaving the Walter Reed Medical Centre on Monday.
In a statement, Dr Conley said Mr Trump responded to the experimental antibody cocktail and steroid treatment without evidence of adverse effects. He said that since returning home, Mr Trump’s “physical exam has remained stable and devoid of any indications to suggest progression of illness.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments