Donald Trump returns to Oval Office; US stocks close higher on hint of stimulus cheques
- Though he may still be at risk of infecting people around him, the White House said precautions were being taken to protect people who interact with him
- White House doctor Sean Conley says that Trump has not had symptoms of the virus for more than 24 hours
US President Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office on Wednesday to be briefed on the status of stalled economic aid talks and a hurricane approaching the US Gulf coast, a White House spokesman said. It was Trump’s first return to the office since his coronavirus diagnosis on Friday.
According to US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, Trump may still be at risk of infecting people around him, but White House spokesman Brian Morgenstern said precautions were being taken to protect people who interact with him.
The on-again, off-again stimulus talks rattled markets on Tuesday after Trump’s tweet saying he had ordered his representatives to stop negotiating with Congress until after the election next month.
Hours later, the president appeared to change his position and tweeted that he would support sending US$1,200 cheques to eligible Americans.
Trump also tweeted late on Tuesday night that Congress should “IMMEDIATELY” approve multibillion-dollar relief packages for airlines and small businesses. “Have this money. I will sign now!” he wrote.