Trump’s Marks COVID Comeback With Limp Balcony Speech to Hundreds
The in-person event Saturday kicked off Trump’s COVID recovery tour that will include stops in three states in three days.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty
Donald Trump hosted hundreds of people outside the White House on Saturday for his first in-person event since contracting COVID-19—but his administration wouldn’t say whether he’s still infected with the virus.
“We gotta vote these people into oblivion,” Trump told the crowd of supporters in a brief 18-minute speech from a White House balcony, far shorter than his typical rally addresses.
The in-person event marked Trump’s return to the campaign spotlight after announcing his COVID-19 diagnosis on Oct. 2 and being hospitalized at Maryland’s Walter Reed hospital.
Trump appeared in several conservative media outlets, and plans to hold rallies in Florida on Monday, Pennsylvania on Tuesday and Iowa on Wednesday.
Earlier on Saturday, White House spokeswoman Alyssa Farah refused to tell reporters whether Trump is virus-free.
Hours before President Trump was set to make his first public appearance since being diagnosed with COVID-19, White House spokeswoman Alyssa Farah wouldn't confirm if Trump was virus free https://t.co/CUSTC06FqG pic.twitter.com/cyy1a9i2U9
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 10, 2020
The rally crowd was set back from the balcony where Trump appeared. Attendees had their temperatures checked and were told to wear masks, according to the White House. More than 2,000 people were reportedly invited to the event but fewer turned up.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The event was organized by right-wing personality Candace Owens and her Blexit group, which urges Black voters to “exit” the Democratic Party.
Mandel Ngan/Getty
The White House dubbed the event a “peaceful protest for law & order.” Pro-Trump figures have recently adopted the “peaceful protest” terminology as a jab at Black Lives Matter protests held during the pandemic, claiming that MAGA “protests” are allowed in the face of COVID-19 restrictions on gathering size.
Trump mostly repeated his usual rally lines in his balcony appearance, touting the economy and warning that “we will never allow our country to become a socialist nation.” The crowd cheered, chanting “four more years” and “we love you.”
“I love you too,” Trump said, before turning back into the White House.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.