Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Trump Hospitalized At Walter Reed After COVID-19 Diagnosis; Biden Tests Negative For COVID-19; Kim Jong Un's Message To Trump. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired October 03, 2020 - 03:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:23]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And welcome to CNN Newsroom, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes. Appreciate your company as we continue our CNN coverage of major breaking news from the U.S. President Donald Trump spending the first of what could be several nights in the hospital as his personal battle with the Coronavirus gets underway.

Mr. Trump at Walter Reed Military Hospital getting treatment there. The White House physician says he's doing well but CNN has learned that the President and his doctors are worried about his health given his risk factors. Despite that he put out an upbeat message earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to thank everybody for the tremendous support. I'm going to Walter Reed Hospital. I think I'm doing very well. But we're going to make sure that things work out. The first lady is doing very well. So thank you very much. I appreciate it. I will never forget it. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: CNN's Boris Sanchez is outside Walter Reed Hospital. Boris, good to see you. So the President's taken an experimental cocktail. He's now taking Remdesivir what is the lightest day on his treatment? What do we actually know?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT Yes, that's really about it. At this point, Michael, are the president taking Regeneron this experimental cocktail of drugs and remdesivir this antiviral drug, that combination has shown some efficacy when it comes to dealing with the symptoms of coronavirus.

And what we've heard from the White House physician is that the President is in good spirits and that this visit to Walter Reed Medical Center is largely out of an abundance of caution. The President only showing mild symptoms of COVID-19, really a low grade fever as well as some fatigue and congestion.

However, as you noted, people close to the president are worried in large part because they've seen this virus quickly turn before. You remember the case of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Initially, after his diagnosis, his condition was mild, his symptoms were mild, and then he wound up in the intensive care unit only a few days later. So there is some concern here that things could very quickly escalate.

A source close to the president tells us that he was spooked by his own diagnosis and the quick onset of symptoms. As you noted, the President, let's not put it lightly. He is obese, he is elderly. He's in that very delicate category that is highly susceptible to the effects of COVID-19.

We should note all campaign events have been postponed or canceled something that the President certainly wasn't looking forward to. So there is cause for concern, especially because just a few weeks ago, as I was there in Jacksonville, Florida, for example, the President was made tens of thousands of people, many of whom not wearing masks a very different scene from what we saw yesterday at the White House.

We're all sorts of officials, even those who have privately argued with me about the effectiveness of wearing masks, were wearing them very somber moments at the white house yesterday. And, of course, a quiet night here waiting for more word from the White House position on the status of President Trump Michael.

HOLMES: And the way it's spreading around the White House probably some nervous folks back there. Boris, thank you very much. Good to see you. Thanks for that Boris Sanchez.

And we are getting a glimpse of just how far the virus is spreading among Washington's power players. President Trump's campaign manager Bill Stepien has tested positive for the virus. And just before that was announced, former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, she said she had it as well. And then there's Republican senators Mike Lee, and Thom Tillis.

Conway was at that crowded Supreme Court nomination have entered the White House last Saturday, along with senators Lee and Tillis, few people, as you can see, they're wearing masks.

Now, so far six people who attended that event have tested positive including the President and First Lady, you see them circled there in that picture. Some doctors say it's starting to look like a super spreader event.

And now with me from Los Angeles is Ravina Kullar. She's an epidemiologist and infectious disease expert. It's great to have your expertise. Now earlier in the day we heard minor symptoms. Then the president gets this experimental cocktail, goes to the hospital 15 hours after saying he was positive. And now on Remdesivir. Are these things done to somebody with mild symptoms? What's your take?

DR. RAVINA KULLAR, INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT AND EPIDEMIOLOGIST: I guess they are. I want to Step back here and just state that, you know, this virus is something that I've never seen in my 15 years serving as an infectious disease expert in the fact that it is so easy.

[03:05:10]

And the fact that it can infect anyone, whether you are the President of the United States, whether you're a grocery store clerk, whether you are an individual just walking around the street. So I think that that is very concerning. And the treatment that he has been put on Remdesivir, monoclonal antibody, they have been shown to potentially be beneficial at this mild, mild stage that President Trump is currently at.

HOLMES: This is a President who falls squarely within the high risk category for complications and somebody who has been very guarded about revealing details of his health. I mean, there is a letter that we got Jeremy Diamond was talking about earlier, that says that he isn't requiring supplemental oxygen. But what are your concerns right now knowing what you know about the virus, and what the progression can potentially be.

KULLAR: But you look at the risk factors, someone that's over the age of 65 has a much higher risk of progressing to severe COVID-19. And eight out of 10 individuals that are over the age of 65, end up dying of COVID-19. We know that male individuals also have a higher risk of progressing onto severe COVID-19. Individuals that also have underlying preexisting conditions such as respiratory conditions, heart disease, and all of those risk factors President Trump exhibits.

So I'm concerned that if he does progress on to a severe COVID-19 state where he is septic, where he has acute respiratory distress syndrome, that is outcome may not look so good.

HOLMES: It's interesting that Hope Hicks positive coronavirus test was known as the President departed from New Jersey and a fundraiser with supporters. I mean, I'm curious as an expert in the field, why would he still go knowing that and potentially exposing dozens of other people? I mean the people at those events and other people on the trip didn't know, what do you make of that in terms of mitigating risk?

KULLAR: I think that that was honestly very careless, whether it's President Trump, whether it's anyone else that knows that they have been with around someone that has been -- that has tested positive for COVID-19, they put other individuals at risk for potentially getting COVID-19. And they themselves are at risk as well.

We know that this virus is very sneaky, that it can persist in individuals, which are pre-symptomatic, at that point you individuals is already virally shedding. And they are very contagious at that time period. So, I am concerned that he went to a fundraiser event where he potentially infected hundreds of other individuals and put others at risk.

HOLMES: Yes, I mean, that is the wilderness thing that you would still go ahead, knowing what you knew. And we've seen in recent hours, one after the other of people close to him testing positive as well. I mean, how many others in the West Wing or advisors and so on, might have been exposed? And, crucially, what should they be doing now? And it's important to note that a negative test among those officials today doesn't mean they're not infected and might be positive in the days ahead, right?

KULLAR: Correct. So we look -- so let's look at a timeline. President Trump tested positive at around 1:00 a.m. on Friday, Eastern Standard Time. And so you want to look at about five days prior to that, because at that time period, he was presymptomatic. And at that time period, he's virally shedding, and he is the most contagious. So that puts us into potentially the Rose Garden event. And that also puts us into that debate that occurred on Tuesday.

So anyone during that time period is at risk for potentially having COVID-19. And what needs to happen is also his -- not only his staff members, but anyone else that was at that debate. And during that time period from Monday to Friday, they need to be quarantined. And they even if they may test negative every single day leading up to 14 days, they have got to quarantine so that means Joe Biden, that means Vice President Pence every single individual that came into contact with President Trump has got to quarantine.

HOLMES: Yes, wise words and words of caution, Ravina Kullar. Appreciate it. Thanks so much.

KULLAR: Thank you.

HOLMES: The Pentagon trying to reassure Americans that U.S. national security is not at risk because of the President's illness. Official say his status doesn't warrant a change in defense alert levels or military posture.

[03:10:03]

They said this quote, there's no change to the readiness or capability of our armed forces. Our national command and control structure is in no way affected by this announcement. The U.S. military stands ready to defend our country and interests.

Juliette Kayyem is a CNN national security analyst. She joins me now from Cambridge, Massachusetts, always lucky when we can get you on Juliette. I mean, your in your belly weak (ph), what will the national security apparatus be doing right now?

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: So I mean, a little bit is, is wait and see. I mean, because we simply don't know or don't have transparency from the White House, nor internally about what the status of Donald Trump is. So there's two ways to think about it.

So one is just your typical sort of typical in terms of we've planned for it succession, a president gets ill, you want to have systems in place that anticipate changes in leadership or making sure that government functions. So we call that continuity of government or continuity of operations, and it's pretty, it was tested, we feel pretty confident in that system. The other thing you're concerned about is not so much would enemies take advantage of the United States, although that's a possibility. But it's more what would enemies take advantage of our sort of focus inward, right, our distraction and do things abroad, whether it's China, with Hong Kong, or it's Russia with one of the neighbors that we couldn't really deal with.

So we're, you know, from our enemies and our allies perspective, the United States was brought to its knees because of our COVID response. And now its leader is sick, because of that response. That's a -- and it's a, you know, it's a -- it's an -- it was predictable, let's just put it that way, in terms of the kind of activity that Donald Trump was doing. My reaction throughout the summer was how was he not getting it? I mean, I would look at him and say, how is he not getting it?

HOLMES: Yes. And meanwhile, you know, Russia already being saved to be interfering in this election.

KAYYEM: Yes.

HOLMES: And now, the commander in chief, you know, goes out like this. I'm wondering, that impact in terms of, you know, how foreign actors may take advantage of this?

KAYYEM: Yes.

HOLMES: How also does it ripple out to the international scene, you got a president stricken by COVID, perhaps, in part because of his own lacks protocols.

KAYYEM: Yes.

HOLMES: I mean, it doesn't inspire confidence in the U.S. as a global leader --

KAYYEM: Yes.

HOLMES: -- at what is a crucial time globally.

KAYYEM: That's exactly right. But we were already there. The thing I keep reminding people today is it's not like the world all of a sudden woke up and said, Oh, my gosh, look at America, it's, you know, it's presidency for three years, but in particular, for the last six months with our COVID response, the world has been horrified at our response, shocked, embarrassed, you know, feeling bad for us pity and laughing.

Sometimes when you think about our enemies about what happened to this once, you know, resilient nation brought to its knees by a single virus that brought most other countries did not bring most of the other countries to their knees.

So they're already coming to this moment with that, and now, you know, Donald Trump getting ill is just is just evidence, you know, A, right, number one about what it is the United States has become. And I think for me, as I look at sort of how other countries think about as it the -- the sort of frustrating thing is that this was an unforced error. I mean, other words, you know, our enemies are laughing at us, because this was so unnecessary. And yet now, this is what we're going to be facing.

HOLMES: Exactly. And there's one other thing too, when it comes to how this White House, this administration runs itself, I mean, speak to the issue that the President and his team, they knew about Hope Hicks was diagnosis --

KAYYEM: Yes.

HOLMES: -- before he went to that fundraiser, and yet they still went. I mean, it's hard to get past the irresponsibility of that considering the people. The President then potentially exposed to this.

KAYYEM: Right. So you I think the only way to understand it is Donald Trump was simply trying to extend the runway long enough to the reelect. In other words, if he could just make it 30 more days, right, ignoring this or pretending like it wasn't going to impact him and moving on, essentially, maybe he could win because he knows he can't win in terms of an election if we're focused solely on COVID because, of course, the response has been so horrible.

HOLMES: Juliette, great to see. Juliette Kayyem, thanks.

KAYYEM: Thank you. See you later.

HOLMES: Well, the President's rival Joe Biden is back on the campaign trail after testing negative for the virus twice on Friday. He called Mr. Trump's diagnosis, a bracing reminder of the seriousness of the pandemic. Biden's campaign has pulled all negative TV advertisement attacking the president while he's in hospital. The thing is, the Trump campaign is on the record now saying it will not do the same.

[03:15:03]

CNN Jason Carroll joins me now from Wilmington in Delaware. First of all, I mean, how concerned is the Biden Camp about the vice president potential for exposure, given what we now know?

JASON CARROLL, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Michael is, you know, we're pretty much in uncharted territory right now. And there was some questions early yesterday about whether or not the vice president would go on to Michigan for that campaign stop.

And I spoke to a campaign official about that decision. And he brought up a couple things. First things first, he said, first of all, that Biden, as you've already said, has tested negative twice. He also pointed out that when the vice president was on the debate stage, with the president, the two were separated, they had distance between them, Biden always wears his mask.

And so these were some of the reasons that were brought up as to why that decision was made to move forward. And continue with that speech in Michigan yesterday. And through much of that speech, Biden once again, talked about the importance of wearing masks, he said, it's not just the patriotic thing to do. But he also said it's about protecting yourself protecting other people as well. But first things first, he made a point of sending his best wishes to the President, and the First Lady.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I'd like to start by acknowledging which I'm sure all of you do as well, sending my prayers for the health and safety of the First Lady and president, President United States after they tested positive for COVID-19.

My wife, Jill, and I pray that they'll make a quick and full recovery. This is not a matter of politics. It's a bracing reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously. It's not going away automatically.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Michael, the Vice President, former vice president also said it's not just about being a tough guy. He also said it's about doing your part. So, again, questions about what the Biden campaign will do going forward. And basically, they're going to do, Michael, what they've done in the past, when it comes to campaigning, they're going to be following the science. They're going to be having a very small footprint when they're out on the campaign trail. That's what they've done in the past. That's what they're going to do going forward.

An example of that later today the vice president will be holding former vice president will be holding a virtual Town Hall. Again, that small footprint, doing what he can virtually, and also doing what he can when he's on the ground. Small crowds, no large rallies following the science, Michael.

HOLMES: Seems to be the way to do it, doesn't it? Jason, good to see. Jason Carroll in Wilmington, Delaware. Appreciate it.

We'll take a quick break. When we come back on the program, world leader who's inspired lots of praise and IO from the U.S. president is sending a message to Mr. Trump in this time of sickness. What Kim Jong-un has to say. That's when we're coming back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:20:03]

HOLMES: Welcome back, U.S. President Donald Trump spending the night and the next few days at the Walter Reed medical center near Washington and being treated for coronavirus.

Got video of him walking their off Marine One. This is after he arrived at the hospital on Friday. The White House physician says Mr. Trump is doing well after receiving an experimental antiviral drug. But an advisor, health experts and policy experts all agree this is a serious situation. And it is extremely rare, of course for a president to stay overnight at the hospital. Ivan Watson is in Hong Kong to tell us who the Trump's have been hearing from. So in terms of international reaction to this extraordinary situation that continues to unfold what's -- what world leader saying,

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, a lot of messages pouring in wishing for the President and the First Lady's speedy recovery among them. The North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un who according to North Korean state media, sent a quote, message of sympathy, hoping that the couple will surely overcome the illness and sending warm greetings as well.

Now it's a holiday in China. And the Chinese Foreign Ministry sent a short, some might argue terse message to CNN in response to this saying that, quote, China has noted relevant reports and wishes Mr. and Mrs. Trump a speedy recovery.

Of course, the American president has been accusing China of being behind this pandemic in the first place, something that Beijing doesn't like. So there was some reaction shortly after the news came out on Chinese social media, where some users were actually calling this a gift for the Mid Autumn Festival here in China. And it's interesting that that has now, those kind of that crowing and gloating has now been removed by the very strict censors in China, Michael.

Another interesting note is that the editor of the Global Times, state backed tabloid, which is very harsh against the U.S. typically, he had tweeted actually that quote, Trump and the First Lady have paid the price for his gamble to play down COVID-19 and then subsequently deleted that tweet.

Messages from European leaders also very positive, Emmanuel Macron sending a handwritten note and the Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram saying, quote, I'm sure that your inherent vitality good spirits and optimism will help you cope with the dangerous virus. Michael?

HOLMES: All right, Ivan. Thank you. Ivan Watson there in Hong Kong for us. And we will take a quick break when we come back. Brazil, the U.S. and the U.K. now have one more thing in common. All leaders who tried to minimize the coronavirus pandemic, and each of them got sick with the virus. We'll have that when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back. The U.S. president isn't the only world leader to have gotten infected by COVID-19. In fact, he joins a small fraternity of presidents and prime ministers who have caught it. Some of them like Mr. Trump spent considerable time downplaying the virus. Here's Nick Robertson with our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[03:25:08]

BORIS JOHNSON, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: I've taken a test that has come out positive --

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): When Boris Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 late March, there was little surprise, but the lessons of his infection are worth reviewing.

JOHNSON: I shook hands with everybody.

ROBERTSON: For weeks before his positive test, Johnson seems slow to acknowledge COVID dangerous --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How's the Prime Minister Mr. Hancock, please?

ROBERTSON: Other government ministers got it too. But as they recovered, Johnson got worse. Nine days after his positive test, he was taken to hospital. Shocking the nation. He was moved into ICU.

JOHNSON: I have today left hospital after a week in which the NHS has saved my life. No question. Thank you from me, from all of us.

ROBERTSON: By contrast, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, barely seemed phase when he got COVID-19 this summer. All along, he loudly play down it's dangerous. His resilience reinforced his messaging.

Johnson's near death experience won him a brief popularity boost the nation willing him well again. But within weeks of leaving hospital, his ratings plummeted back as the nation's pandemic problems persisted.

(on camera): The other big takeaways from his brush with death was the rosy optimism coating his office his pronouncements on his health and his struggle to get back to full strength.

(voice-over): 56 years old and overweight, Johnson took two weeks off after leaving hospital is much younger pregnant partner Carrie Simmons says she had COVID symptoms too, bounce back more readily soon having a son. The couple's naming their child after the doctor, Johnson credits with saving his life.

JOHNSON: I start the day by going for a run with the dog.

ROBERTSON: Johnson took up jogging, shedding some of his excess weight. COVID lasting impact on him and the nation, a push to get fitter to aid survival and hold the pandemic at bay. Nick Robertson, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: I'm Michael Holmes, appreciate you spending part of your day with me. Do stay tuned African voices changemakers. Coming up next in about 30 minutes, you'll see Natalie Allen with more news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)