President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, has contracted coronavirus, it has been confirmed.
Bloomberg first reported the news late Friday night that Meadows spoke to his staff and informed them he had been infected. It is not clear when he knew he became infected as he was at Tuesday night’s election rally at the White House and was around members of the President’s family.
A Trump campaign aide, Nick Trainer, has also got the virus, according to reports.
The news comes as Mr. Trump is facing an uphill battle in his effort to be re-elected to a second term. Meadows has been one of the key figures in the President’s efforts to challenge votes in several states.
Meadows is just the latest White House staffer to get the virus after the President, his wife, Melania, and his youngest son, Barron. Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, and other aides tested positive for the virus late last month.
Mr. Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic was a central issue in the election as the majority of Americans felt he handled it poorly. It is widely seen as the main reason he is projected to lose re-election to his Democratic rival Joe Biden.
