President Trump, who remains at Walter Reed Medical Center for treatment for COVID-19, is “not out of the woods,” but doctors are “cautiously optimistic,” his physician said in a statement late Saturday.
The president said in a four-minute Twitter video on Saturday night that he is feeling “much better” and thinks he’ll “be back soon.”
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said on Fox News late Saturday that he and Conley had been “very concerned” about Mr. Trump’s health on Friday, as the president’s oxygen was dropping “very rapidly,” but also said he was “very optimistic” and that Mr. Trump was doing “extremely well.”
Meadows said earlier Saturday that the president’s vitals over the past 24 hours were “very concerning” and “the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care.”
“We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery,” the person added.
Mr. Trump’s status and the timeline of the progression of his symptoms remained unclear on Saturday. Two sources confirmed to CBS News’ Paula Reid that Mr. Trump received oxygen at the White House on Friday before he was transferred to Walter Reed in Maryland.
Conley, his physician, told reporters on Saturday that Mr. Trump was not currently on oxygen, but did not say whether he had been previously. Receiving oxygen may be standard medical protocol and is not an indication that Mr Trump was suffering shortness of breath.
Mr. Trump is being treated with remdesivir, a drug that has shortened the recovery time for some patients with the virus. Doctors said Mr. Trump is fever-free and in “exceptionally good spirits.”
Several other members of Mr. Trump’s orbit reported positive COVID-19 test results, including Trump 2020 campaign manager Bill Stepien, former senior adviser Kellyanne Conway, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who was admitted to the hospital Saturday afternoon.
