Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has expressed solidarity with President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, after they tested positive for COVID-19.
“Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery.
“We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family,” Biden, the president’s rival in the Nov. 3 presidential election tweeted on friday morning.
Minutes later, his running mate, Kamala Harris, also tweeted her reaction.
“Doug and I join Joe Biden and Dr Biden in wishing President Trump and the First Lady a full and speedy recovery.
“We’re keeping them and the entire Trump family in our thoughts”, she said.
Their messages came hours after Trump broke the news himself on Twitter on Thursday night.
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately.
“We will get through this TOGETHER!”, he tweeted.
The news has opened the floodgates of reactions from world leaders who are sending words of encouragement and prayers to the first family.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are among those who sent in words.
Earlier on Thursday, the president tweeted that he was going into isolation after his close aide, Hope Hicks, tested positive for the virus.
Trump, 74, travelled with Hicks aboard Air Force One to Ohio for Tuesday’s presidential debate, where Melania, 50, and other family members were sighted without masks.
In a statement, the president’s doctor, Sean Conley, said the first couple were at the time and planned to remain within the White House during their recovery.
“Rest assured I expect the president to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any future developments,” he said.
Trump’s handling of the pandemic is a major issue in the presidential campaign, and he has been sighted on several occasions not wearing masks or social distancing. (NAN)
