Usually Kellyanne Conway‘s daughter Claudia‘s TikTok channel is filled with fun lip sync and dance videos. But things got real on Oct. 2 when the 15-year-old revealed that her mom has COVID-19 after the 53-year-old Republican political operative‘s boss, President Donald Trump, 74, tested positive for the coronavirus the night before. He has since been hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Claudia could be seen with a mask on while wearing glam eye makeup. She wrote, “update my mom has covid” across the top of the video. She wrote in another video that she was “furious” that her mom could have exposed her and to “wear your masks. don’t listen to our idiot f**king president piece of sh*t. protect yourselves and those around you.” 40 minutes after Claudia broke the news via TikTok, Kellyanne confirmed that it was true it in a tweet.
Tonight I tested positive for COVID-19. My symptoms are mild (light cough) and I’m feeling fine. I have begun a quarantine process in consultation with physicians.
As always, my heart is with everyone affected by this global pandemic. ❤️
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) October 3, 2020
Kellyanne tweeted, “Tonight I tested positive for COVID-19. My symptoms are mild (light cough) and I’m feeling fine. I have begun a quarantine process in consultation with physicians. As always, my heart is with everyone affected by this global pandemic,” along with a heart emoji.
Alarm bells went off on Oct. 1, when it was revealed that one of Trump’s closest aides Hope Hicks, 31, had tested positive for COVID-19. She had travelled with the president aboard Air Force One to Ohio on Sept. 29 for his first debate against Democratic challenger Joe Biden, 77. Hope was also with Trump the following day when he flew to Duluth, MN for a campaign rally. It was on the way back from Minnesota to Washington D.C. that Hicks began experiencing mild symptoms, before testing positive on the morning of Oct. 1. That evening, Trump and wife Melania, 50, subsequently tested positive for the coronavirus as well.
While it is unclear exactly when or where Hicks and the Trumps were infected, all signs are pointing to a possible Sat. Sept. 26 super-spreader event at the White House Rose Garden where Trump announced Judge Amy Coney-Barrett as his pick to replace the late SCOTUS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court. Kellyanne was seated directly behind Melania, and only an extremely small number of attendees wore protective masks. U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) was seated across the grass aisle from Kellyanne at the event, and announced on Oct. 2 that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Tonight my COVID-19 test came back positive. I’m following the recommendations of my doctor. Thankfully, I have no symptoms and feel well. COVID is a very contagious virus. If you were exposed or start to display symptoms, please call your doctor, self-isolate, and get tested. pic.twitter.com/fwc826dkvQ
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) October 3, 2020
Later on Friday, Sen. Tom Tillis (R-NC) announced that he has become the second senator behind Lee to have tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the Sept. 26 event for Coney-Barrett. Unlike Lee, Tillis actually did wear a mask to the event. He as since tweeted, “Tonight my COVID-19 test came back positive. I’m following the recommendations of my doctor. Thankfully, I have no symptoms and feel well. COVID is a very contagious virus. If you were exposed or start to display symptoms, please call your doctor, self-isolate, and get tested.” He also noted that he’ll be following his doctor’s recommendation to self-isolate at home for 10 days plans to notifying everyone he’s been close contact with.