As America woke up to the news that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have been infected with the novel coronavirus, Vice President Mike Pence’s office reassured the country that he did not test positive.
America, however, quickly checked on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D), next in line for the presidency after Pence, to make sure she was feeling okay.
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Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
I join millions of Americans in saying it is what it is.
— Lauren Hough (@laurenthehough) October 2, 2020
While Trump’s tweet announcing the diagnosis has become his most liked ever, the reaction to Pence’s results wasn’t met with the same brio.
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As has been routine for months, Vice President Pence is tested for COVID-19 every day. 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
Indeed. Fancy that.
— Eric Dean Wade (@nandesu) October 2, 2020
Darn it. I was looking forward to seeing him squirm at his debate with Senator Harris. Which he can’t attend now, because of quarantine, right?
— Jeez O. Pete (@Jeez_O_Pete) October 2, 2020
Pence can't contract C19 bc his head never stops nodding up and down preventing airborne entry to nostrils.
— 🎆PushbackTime (@GNSNick) October 2, 2020
Instead, Twitter started making the political calculations of the chaos that could ensue if the coronavirus spread through the ranks of top officials in the administration.
Republican Party chair Ronna McDaniel also announced she had tested positive today. White House advisor Hope Hicks was diagnosed yesterday.
After learning of Trump’s diagnosis, Pelosi appeared on CNN with a sage bit of advice.
“As sad as the diagnosis is that the president and first lady have, maybe it is the pivotal moment to take us to a different place as we fight this vicious virus based on science, not on politics.”
She said that she has been tested and is awaiting the results.
I would think both Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi should be put into quarantine now for safety reasons
Many people will make jokes but this is a serious thing for America
Huge failure by the folks in the White House not to keep President from getting it
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) October 2, 2020
Protect Nancy Pelosi at all costs.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) October 2, 2020
I need Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris to stay home.
— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) October 2, 2020
Nancy Pelosi, on Trump's positive COVID test: "Hopefully this will be a message to the rest of the country…you have to wear your mask."
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) October 2, 2020
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “As sad as the diagnosis is that the President and first lady have, maybe it is the pivotal moment to take us to a different place as we fight this vicious virus based on science, not on politics." https://t.co/jIK0vkOXRd pic.twitter.com/iSgdBX7djD
— CNN (@CNN) October 2, 2020
