Yep, the October Surprise has already happened before large hunks of the country were even able to finish October 1st.
Technically though, we should add some clarity: we only know Trump has been exposed to coronavirus. No news has yet been released as of 1:30am EST / 10:30pm PST about the President’s symptoms (or lack thereof), but the president’s Twitter account did announce that he and Melania had both tested positive and were entering quarantine. Apparently the white house has also known for days that Hope Hicks tested positive and after she was positive was traveling and interacting with Trump, White House staff, and the White House Press Corps. There is as yet no guarantee that Biden was not directly or indirectly exposed, so watch for updates on that front.
Right now though, what we know is monumental enough. With a bare month to go until election day, the president’s quarantine has just now rendered him unable to campaign for at least a week, and possibly much longer. Couple this with the drastic cutbacks in advertising by the Trump campaign (even in crucial swing states) and this is huge news just from the point of view of the horserace coverage that the TV news loves. Combine that with the national security implications and the inevitable “What did person X know and when did person X know it?” stories, and this little tidbit on Pervert Justice will be the least of your info about this story. Nonetheless, I thought it important to put something up on FtB right away.
Be ready folks, this is probably only the first of several October Surprises if I know 2020.
He has it. So does his “fuck the children” wife. (45’s physician released a statement.) No doubt they will have the bleach and hydroxychloroquine lined up for them, hoping for a swift recovfefe.
CD, your email was my first notification of this. Kudos, and stay safe.
Announcement of the postponement of the election in 5… 4…
I sincerely wish for the USA to get well soon.
“hoping for a swift recovfefe”
Normally wouldn’t do this but… I’m calling it here. Xanthe wins the Internet today.
@ ^ sonofrojblake : Agreed and seconded.
***
Yes. Trump has tested positive as has Melania and Hope Hicks. Aussie ABC news on this here :
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-02/donald-trump-positive-to-coronavirus-melania-hope-hicks-covid19/12725310
It is possible if still unlikely that by election time Trump, Biden and Pence may have died from the disease. It is certain that Trump’s Denialism, incompetence, snake oil selling and Conspiracy Thinking has killed over 200,000 Americans already.
Hmm .. If Trump dies from Covid 19 do you think Democratic party leaders and members will ignore his last wishes as contemptuously and as blatantly as he has blatantly and contemptuously ignored Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s final wish?
Trump’s taxes: how quickly we forget.
@Siggy:
Didn’t we get those before Thursday? That would be a September surprise, right?