ToplineA new book reveals that former President Donald Trump's fight with Covid-19 in October last year was more serious than he and his advisors believed. It paints a different picture of an era still shrouded by mystery.Trump's car drives past his supporters as he passes by Walter Reed Medical... [+] Center, Bethesda on October 4, 2020. He informed his backers via Twitter about a surprise visit.The Key FactsAccording to the Washington Post article, Mark Meadows, then his chief of staff, was worried that Trump might die after he was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital last fall with Covid symptoms. This article is adapted from Nightmare Scenario, which describes Trump's response to the pandemic. Two Trump advisors, Yasmeen Abutaleb and Damian Paletta from the Post, said that Trump was suffering from Covid symptoms and that they feared he would die. The article is based on Nightmare Scenario, a book about Trump's response to the pandemic. Trump refused to listen to his doctors' recommendations and returned to the White House. Other details about Trump's struggle with Covid-19 are included in the book. Trump was debating whether to go to the hospital. His aides gave him two options. He could either go now while he can still walk, or wait until later when the media could spot him in a wheelchair. This was also reported last year by Vanity Fair and other outlets. Stephen Hahn, the then Food and Drug Administration commissioner, received an urgent request by a top White House official regarding fast-tracking authorization of a monoclonal anti-abwehr treatment that was not yet approved. After Hahn refused to approve the request immediately, Hahn was bombarded by frantic requests from officials to make concessions (Hahn declined), and the FDA approved treatment by the book.Forbes reached Meadows for comment but did not receive a response immediately.Important BackgroundConley led Trump's medical team. He was criticised for not being transparent about former president's condition. Trump experienced two brief drops in oxygen saturation as he battled the virus. According to the book, Trump's blood oxygen level fell into the 80s in one instance. The former president was then given oxygen (doctors believe that the normal blood oxygen level should be between 95%-100%).TangentAccording to the book, Trump's health advisors and doctors like Redfield and Dr. Anthony Fauci believed that Trump's diagnosis would persuade them to treat the virus more seriously. His personal experience proved to be the exact opposite. Trump urged Americans not to be afraid of Covid, and falsely claimed that he was immune from the disease. Trump dramatically removed his mask as he climbed a flight stairs to a balcony when he returned to the White House. The election was weeks away and Trump was worried about presenting any weakness to the American people.Important QuoteTrump said that it was like a miracle. He told Jason Miller, his then campaign advisor, in one phone call from the hospital, about the steroid treatment he received, according to the book. I won't lie. I didn't feel that great.Continue readingThe extraordinary effort to save Trump's from covid-19 (Washington Post).
