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Press Release

Rundown of Trump, Staff Reckless Behavior Since September 14

By October 2, 2020No Comments

Trump Held Maskless Rallies, In-Door Events & Fundraisers

White House Staff Held Multiple Maskless Press Briefings

Trump Family Refused to Wear Masks At Debate

On October 2, White House Chief Of Staff Mark Meadows Briefed Reporters On The Administration’s Outbreak Without A Mask. 

  • “White House chief of staff Mark Meadows addressed reporters outside the White House Friday, hours after President Donald Trump’s positive coronavirus diagnosis, blatantly disregarding guidelines on mask usage despite his close contact with the President this week. Meadows defended not wearing a mask, saying it was because he received a negative test and was socially distanced from reporters, but in the same breath, acknowledged that Covid-19 is “contagious… regardless of whatever protocol we have.” [CNN, 10/2/20]

On October 1, President Trump Attended A Fundraiser At His Bedminster, New Jersey Golf Club After He Knew Hope Hicks Had Tested Positive. 

    •  “Mark Meadows says the White House learned Hope Hicks tested positive ‘right as Marine One was taking off’ for Trump’s fundraiser in New Jersey. But the trip wasn’t scrapped, and Trump may have exposed attendees.” [Twitter, @Brett_Samuels27, 10/2/20]
  • Trump Was In Contact With About 100 People At His Bedminster Fundraiser While Exhibiting Symptoms.“The president has had what one person described as cold-like symptoms. At a fund-raiser he attended at his golf club at Bedminster, N.J., on Thursday, where one attendee said the president came in contact with about 100 people, he seemed lethargic.” [New York Times, 10/2/20]

On October 1, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, Who Had Been On A Plane With Hope Hicks, Held A Maskless Press Briefing After Hicks Had Tested Positive. 

  • “[Hicks] positive diagnosis came on Thursday, according to the person familiar with her case, but the White House made no announcement about the situation, and Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, who had also been on the plane and exposed to Ms. Hicks, then held a briefing with reporters without mentioning it or wearing a mask.” [New York Times, 10/2/20]

Even After Knowing Hope Hicks Had Tested Positive, President Trump Was Planning On Hosting Two Super Spreader Rallies In Wisconsin “Red Zones,” Where Cases Are Surging And Hospitals Are Overwhelmed. 

  • “Trump moved a Saturday rally to Janesville after La Crosse officials criticized the decision to hold an event in their city, which is considered a ‘red zone’ for the virus by the president’s administration.  But the president still plans to hold an event in Green Bay later that day despite calls from officials there to reconsider because of the city’s even higher rate of infection. And as soon as Trump announced the new rally in Janesville, county officials there asked him to cancel it.” [Green Bay Press Gazette, 10/1/20]

On September 30, President Trump Held A Super Spreader Rally In Duluth, Minnesota, With Thousands Of Supporters And Three Minnesota Congressmen. 

  • “Just over a day after hosting a campaign rally attended by thousands in Duluth, Minn., President Donald Trump says he and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus. Three Minnesota congressmen were travelling with him in recent days, as Trump rallied with thousands of supporters in Duluth Wednesday, Sept. 30… Three Minnesota Congressmen — U.S. Reps. Jim Hagedorn (CD1), Tom Emmer (CD6) and Pete Stauber (CD8) — traveled on Air Force One with the president from Washington, D.C., to Minnesota, as well as by motorcade. They planned to fly back to D.C. with the president, as well.”  [Duluth News Tribune, 10/2/20]

On September 30, Trump Attended A Fundraiser At The Home Of Cambria CEO Marty Davis In Shorewood, Minnesota. 

  • “Whether by plane or by train, the presidential candidates are hitting the campaign trail hard after Tuesday night’s chaotic debate. While Democratic challenger Joe Biden focused his attention back east, President Donald Trump held a big rally at the Duluth International Airport Wednesday night. He landed there at about 8 p.m. after attending a fundraiser in Shorewood, hosted by Cambria CEO Marty Davis.” [CBS Minnesota, 9/30/20]
  • Pictures From The Shorewood Event Show A Disregard For COVID-19 Precautions. “Political consultant Blois Olson said on WCCO radio that he had seen images from the Shorewood fundraiser that showed a disregard for COVID-19 precautions. ‘Staff and guests lingered after the president was there,’ Olson told host Dave Lee Friday morning. ‘They sang karaoke, they had their arms around each other.” Among those pictured: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Olson said, citing images of a private Instagram account.” [Twin Cities Pioneer Press, 10/2/20]

[Duluth News Tribune, 10/2/20]

On September 30, President Trump Met With Three Minnesota Republicans, Who Have Not Been Asked To Isolate. 

  • “Trump also held a private conversation with Minnesota state Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, and House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, upon landing in Minneapolis Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 30. Former congressman and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Jason Lewis was also present. The four Republicans were unmasked, but outside and several feet apart. A Minnesota House Republican staffer told Forum News Service early Friday that Daudt had not at that point been contacted by the White House about the president’s positive test and had not been advised to quarantine.” [Duluth News Tribune, 10/2/20]

President Trump’s Family And Supporters Refused To Wear Masks At The Presidential Debate On September 29. 

  • “Timely reminder that on debate night, members of [the] Trump family and Trump administration did not wear masks, which were required by the Cleveland Clinic. A doctor approached the Trump guests, offering masks and reminding them to put one on – but nobody did.” [Twitter, @JacquiHeinrich, 10/2/20]

At The Presidential Debate On September 29, Trump Mocked Joe Biden For Wearing A Mask. 

  • “For months, Mr. Trump has refused to wear a mask in public on all but a few occasions and has repeatedly questioned their effectiveness. And as recently as Tuesday, at their opening debate, he mocked Mr. Biden for wearing one. ‘I don’t wear masks like him,’ the president said, his voice dripping with derision. ‘Every time you see him, he’s got a mask.’” [New York Times, 10/2/20]

On September 28, President Trump Held A Press Conference In The White House Rose Garden About Testing Strategy, Where Administration Officials Were Seen Without Masks. [CBS, 9/28/20]

[Flickr, The White House, 9/28/20]

  • A Member White House Staffer Who Sits In “Lower Press” Has Since Tested Positive. “PER CNN: these two cases are a journalist and a White House staffer who sits in the ‘lower press.’” [Twitter, @AdamBassWCCS, 10/2/20]

On September 27, President Trump Hosted A Reception To Honor Gold Star Families — Where He Interacted With Defense Secretary Mark Esper And Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley. 

  • “The defense secretary and several members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff attended an event at the White House on Sunday, days before President Donald Trump, his wife and a top aide tested positive for the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. Defense Secretary Mark Esper; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley; and the top Army, Air Force and Marine generals attended a Gold Star family event at the White House on Sunday, multiple defense officials told Military.com.” [Military.Com, 10/2/20]

On September 26, President Trump Nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett To The Supreme Court In Front Of A Maskless Crowd In The Rose Garden. 

  • “The Rose Garden last week in front of Amy Coney Barrett. No testing, no distancing, no masks.” [Twitter, MikeyKayNYC, 10/1/20]


[Twitter, MikeyKayNYC, 10/1/20]

  • Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) Has Tested Positive Since Attending The Event In The Rose Garden. “Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, announced on Friday that he too had tested positive for the coronavirus, as the president’s diagnosis reverberated at the Capitol, prompting fresh demands for better protections for lawmakers Mr. Lee was at the White House on Saturday for Mr. Trump’s announcement of Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court nominee, and met with the judge at the Capitol on Tuesday. He said he had sought a test after experiencing allergy-like symptoms and would isolate himself for 10 days. Mr. Lee said he had tested negative at the White House on Saturday.” [New York Times, 10/2/20]
  • Notre Dame President Reverend John Jenkins Has Tested Positive Since Attending The Rose Garden Event. “SCOTUS announcement attendee, Notre Dame President Reverend John Jenkins, who attended WH rose garden announcement on Saturday, tests #COVID19 positive now too. Like many others at #SCOTUS nom event, did not wear a mask and shook hands with many people.” [Twitter, DrEricDing, 10/2/20]

On September 26, President Trump Met With Judge Amy Coney Barrett And Her Family, Maskless, In The Oval Office. 

  • “Today we welcomed Judge Amy Coney Barrett & her family to the @WhiteHouse as @POTUS announced her nomination to serve as Associate Justice of the @USSupremeCourt. This is a historic moment for the Court and we send our best wishes to her & her family. [Twitter, @FLOTUS, 9/26/20]

On September 26, President Trump Held A Super Spreader Rally In Front Of His “Largest Crowd” Since The Pandemic Began In Middletown, Pennsylvania. 

  • “In front of his largest campaign crowd in Pennsylvania since the COVID-19 pandemic started more than six months ago, President Donald J. Trump told an adoring crowd of thousands that he would win the battleground state by ‘a lot more’ than he did four years ago… The crowd of supporters at Harrisburg International Airport was mostly unmasked. The campaign said 2,000 chairs were placed, and it appeared as though thousands more were there to support the president, including multiple elected officials.” [York Daily Record, 9/26/20]

President Trump Held An Indoor Latinos For Trump Round Table In Florida On September 25, Where Less Than Half The Attendees Wore Face Coverings. 

    • “A day before announcing his Supreme Court nominee, President Donald Trump was in South Florida, holding a roundtable Friday with Latinos for Trump as he campaigns in the critical swing state… Eight invited panelists, each an entrepreneur who immigrated from a Latin American or Caribbean country, praised Trump for cutting taxes and business regulations, and for helping them achieve their American dream. An audience of more than 150 people was in attendance in the hotel ballroom, where less than half the people were wearing face coverings, according to a pool report.” [Local 10, 9/25/20]
  • Hispanics And Latinos Have Been Disproportionately Impacted By The Virus In Florida. According to the COVID Tracking Project’s Racial Data Dashboard, Hispanic and Latino Floridians account for 41% of the state’s cases, but 25% of the state’s population. [COVID Tracking Project, Accessed 10/2/20]

On September 25, President Trump Held An Event On Black Economic Empowerment In Atlanta, Georgia. 

    • “President Trump leaned into his economic record Friday as he attempted to attract Black voters with a pledge to try to secure more lending for African American business owners. Trump unveiled what he called the “platinum plan” for Black economic empowerment at a campaign event in Atlanta. But during wide-ranging remarks, Trump spent more time telling people why they shouldn’t vote for Democratic rival Joe Biden than he did describing his campaign pitch to African Americans.” [NPR, 9/25/20]
  • Black Georgians Account For 41 Percent Of The State’s Deaths To COVID-19. According to the COVID Tracking Project’s Racial Data Dashboard, Black and African Americans residents of Georgia account for only 31% of the state’s population, but 41% of the state’s deaths. [COVID Tracking Project, Accessed 10/2/20]
  • Photos From The Event Show That Attendees Are Not Wearing Masks. “@Casper4Colorado At the Black Economic Empowerment Platinum Plan in Atlanta! @realDonaldTrump @DonaldJTrumpJr @EricTrump @kimKBaltimore @BurgessOwens” [Twitter, @Casper4Colorado, 9/25/20]

President Trump Held A Super-Spreader Rally In Newport News, Virginia On September 25. 

  • “There’s growing concern surrounding President Donald Trump’s rally in Newport News [September 25]. The event saw thousands of people at Atlantic Aviation at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. Many of them were not wearing masks. 13News Now reported last week that the president campaigned at Atlantic Aviation, a fixed base operator at Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport. The event was a private event not endorsed by the airport commission. There’s concern that the rally could turn into a COVID-19 super spreader event.” [13 News Now, 9/28/20]

President Trump Held A Super-Spreader Rally In Jacksonville, Florida On September 24. 

  • “Thousands of fans stood close together and cheered for President Trump during a rally at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville. That was on Sept. 24. Just before 1 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, President Trump tweeted that he and the first lady have tested positive for the coronavirus.  Mr. Trump has been on similar campaign stops around the country with packed crowds despite the pandemic. Supporters are usually not wearing masks or social distancing. At the Jacksonville rally, he was joined by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.” [First Coast News, 10/2/20]

On September 22, President Trump Held A Super-Spreader Rally In Moon Township, Pennsylvania Where He Mocked BIden For Wearing A Mask As The Coronavirus Death Toll Passed 200,000. 

  • “A week before the presidential candidates are set to meet in their first televised debate, President Donald Trump riffed on Vice President Joe Biden’s insistence on wearing a face mask — and Biden’s face itself. ‘I wonder in the debate, when him and I get on stage, is he going to walk in with a mask?’ Trump joked. ‘I’ll be honest, he feels good about the mask, and that’s okay, whatever makes you feel good. I mean honestly, what the hell did he spend all that money on the plastic surgery if he’s going to cover it up with a mask?’ Trump’s visit to the Pittsburgh area came the same day reported deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S.surpassed 200,000.” [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 9/22/20]

[Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 9/22/20]

North Carolina Authorities Urged Rally-Goers To Get Tested After Trump Hosted A September 19 Super-Spreader Event In Fayetteville, North Carolina, Where There Was “Accelerated” Viral Spread. 

  • “Authorities in North Carolina want some 5,000 supporters of Donald Trump to seek  coronavirus tests following his latest campaign rally in Fayetteville. An estimated 5,600 people attended the US president’s rally on [September 19] despite the current pandemic, which has seen almost seven million Americans contract the virus and over 200,000 killed. Two-thirds of his supporters were reported to have not worn masks, whilst attendees were unable to social distance… Praising those who wore masks on Saturday, Cumberland County’s public health director, warned that there was “accelerated” community spread in the area.” [The Independent, 9/23/20]

On September 14, President Trump Held An Indoor Super-Spreader Rally In Henderson, Nevada. 

  • “President Donald Trump spoke to thousands of supporters indoors on Sunday for the first time in nearly three months… Sunday’s rally in Henderson, Nevada — which was held inside a facility of Xtreme Manufacturing — was expected to violate the state’s restriction on gatherings of 50 people or more. It follows a stretch of outdoor events after Trump’s controversial indoor Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally in June saw underwhelming attendance.” [CNN, 9/14/20]

[Heavy, 9/17/20]