- The Washington Times - Thursday, October 1, 2020

Hope Hicks, one of President Trump’s closest aides, has tested positive for coronavirus infection, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mr. Trump confirmed to Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday night that Ms. Hicks tested positive. “I just went for a test and we’ll see what happens,” Mr. Trump said.

Ms. Hicks, 31, traveled with the president on Air Force One to and from the presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday, and to his campaign rally in Minnesota on Wednesday.

The White House said there is no indication that the president has contracted the virus, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the story.

“The president takes the health and safety of himself and everyone who works in support of him and the American people very seriously,” deputy White House press secretary Judd Deere said in a statement that did not address Ms. Hicks.

He said, “White House Operations collaborates with the physician to the president and the White House Military Office to ensure all plans and procedures incorporate current CDC guidance and best practices for limiting COVID-19 exposure to the greatest extent possible both on complex and when the president is traveling.”

The positive test of a close aide raised the question of whether the president and many of his senior advisers, including Jared Kushner and Stephen Miller, would need to self-quarantine for two weeks.

• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.

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