Mike Pence sent ‘love and prayers’ to Trump and Melania after they tested positive for COVID-19. He is in line to take over if Trump can’t lead.

• Vice President Mike Pence sent “love and prayers” to President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump after they both tested positive for the coronavirus.
• Trump’s doctor said the president is “well” and that he expects he will keep running the government “without disruption.”
• Pence is next in line to take over if the virus means that Trump can’t fulfill his duties. His press secretary said Pence tested negative on Friday morning.
• Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Vice President Mike Pence said that he and his wife “send our love and prayers” to President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump after they both tested positive for the coronavirus.

Pence said in a statement early on Friday morning: “Karen and I send our love and prayers to our dear friends President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS Melania Trump.

“We join millions across America praying for their full and swift recovery.”

—Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) October 2, 2020

Pence’s statement did not make reference to the fact, but he is in line to fill in for Trump if the president becomes incapacitated.

Pence’s press secretary said that Pence tested negative for the virus on Friday morning. He said: “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.”

—Devin O’Malley (@VPPressSec) October 2, 2020

 

But Trump’s doctor said that he expects the president to continue running the government during his isolation.

Trump tweeted early on Friday morning that he and Melania had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that has now killed more than 207,000 Americans and more than one million people around the world.

“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” he wrote.

—Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020

In a memo published by the White House, Trump’s physician Sean Conley predicted that Trump would not need to step back from his duties as president.

He wrote: “Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering.”

However, should this change, power would pass to Pence.

The 25th Amendment means a president that is unable to do his job for medical reasons can temporarily transfer their power to their vice president, and later claim it back.

Trump was tested for the disease after his top aide and adviser Hope Hicks tested positive earlier this week.

If both Pence and Trump were unable to fill the role, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would be next in line to fill in under the 25th Amendment.

Both Trump and Hicks’ movements over the past week brought them into contact with other significant US political figures.

Trump held private fundraising events and a rally, while Hicks met with figures like White House adviser Stephen Miller, campaign adviser Jason Miller, and advisor and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Trump also met former Vice President Joe Biden during their first presidential debate on Tuesday, although they remained distant and did not shake hands.

• Read more about Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis:
• Trump held an indoor fundraiser with supporters even after White House officials knew Hope Hicks had tested positive for COVID-19
  
• Democrats wish Trump a swift recovery from COVID-19, and hope it changes his policies on the virus
  
• Trump had an extensive list of meetings and events the week prior to testing positive for COVID-19
• The President’s COVID-19 diagnosis wipes out half of the most important resource the Trump re-election effort has: Time
• Experts explain the possible fallout of world leaders catching the coronavirus