Trump's Surprise Election Outing... Possible Discharge as Early as Tomorrow (Comprehensive)

Showing Strength to Supporters Outside Hospital by Car
"Learned a Lot About COVID-19"
Some Criticize for Violating Quarantine Guidelines

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump, who is hospitalized for treatment of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), made a 'surprise outing' on the 4th (local time) to greet his supporters.

With 30 days left until the presidential election, this is interpreted as an attempt to demonstrate his vitality and rally his supporters. The White House physician stated that President Trump's condition has improved and he could be discharged as early as the 5th, but some analyses suggest that the situation is still not reassuring.

According to U.S. media including CNN, President Trump took a vehicle outside Walter Reed Military Hospital in Maryland, where he is hospitalized, in the afternoon. Wearing a mask in the vehicle, he waved to supporters gathered outside the hospital before returning inside.

President Trump's outing occurred shortly after he said in a social media video that he would make a 'surprise visit.' In the video lasting about one minute, President Trump expressed, "I sincerely thank the supporters and donors who supported me outside the hospital."

He also mentioned, "I have learned a lot about COVID-19. This is a real school." He added, "I have come to know and understand it. I will let people know," revealing his intention to actively use his COVID-19 experience in the election campaign.

The day before, when White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows mentioned rumors of a serious condition and public opinion became uneasy, Trump appeared in a video to calm the situation.

This move by President Trump is interpreted as an attempt to fully utilize the fact that he has overcome COVID-19 in the election campaign. In this regard, White House physician Sean Conley said on the same day, "President Trump could be discharged as early as tomorrow (the 5th)."

President Trump disclosed his COVID-19 infection in the early morning of the 2nd and was hospitalized that afternoon. If he is discharged on the 5th as his physician said, it will be four days since his hospitalization. This is interpreted as having won the battle against the disease, which could help consolidate his support base.

However, his condition still appears unstable. The White House had previously stated that President Trump showed mild symptoms, but it was admitted that he experienced two drops in blood oxygen levels just before hospitalization and had a high fever on the 2nd.

On the morning of the 3rd, his oxygen saturation dropped again, and he took the steroid 'dexamethasone,' a basic treatment for those needing oxygen.

President Trump's surprise outing also became a target of criticism. He was criticized for violating quarantine rules for COVID-19 positive patients and putting the Secret Service agents riding in the vehicle at risk. The Hill, a U.S. congressional media outlet, reported that it "sparked immediate safety concerns and anger."