Amid Donald Trump’s coronavirus woes, Nancy Pelosi unveils bill to assess presidential capacity
- US leader, raring to return to campaign trail, will hold event at White House on Saturday
- Trump to undergo on-air ‘medical evaluation’ on Fox News, in first on-camera interview since his Covid-19 infection was announced
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Donald Trump’s chief rival in Congress, proposed a commission on Friday to assess a president’s capacity for carrying out his duties – a move that highlights concerns about Trump’s health weeks before the election.
Despite the conspicuous timing of the unveiling, Pelosi insisted that “this is not about President Trump”, who has been treated for Covid-19 for the past week and is desperate to return to campaigning.
Trump on Saturday will hold his first public event at the White House since he tested positive last week, a senior administration official said on Friday. The official, who asked not to be identified, confirmed US media reports that Trump will speak on the theme of “law and order” to a gathering on the South Lawn.
The president is also planning to undergo an on-air “medical evaluation” on Fox News on Friday, during his first on-camera interview since his coronavirus infection was announced.
02:47
Donald Trump continues to downplay severity of Covid-19 as more US officials report infections
Trump “will face the judgment of the voters”, Pelosi said. “But he shows the need to create a process for future presidents.”