White House doctor in charge of Donald Trump’s treatment under pressure to offer detailed briefing on truth about president’s health
The White House doctor in charge of President Donald Trump's treatment is facing pressure to brief the press on Trump's condition.
Dr. Sean Conley released two doctor's notes - first confirming that the president and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus and then detailing Trump's Friday treatment - but hasn't faced questions.
On Friday evening, Trump took Marine One from the White House South Lawn to Walter Reed Medical Center for several days of monitoring, the White House said.
President Donald Trump's White House doctor is facing pressure to brief the press on the president's medical condition after Trump tested positive for COVID-19
Dr. Sean Conley has served as the Physician to the President since 2018 and wrote two doctor's notes in the last 24 hours
Conley was named the acting Physician to the President in March 2018 after Trump surprisingly nominated his predecessor, Dr. Ronny Jackson, to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Conley remained in the position and became the full-time Physician to the President in May 2018, even after Jackson's nomination failed. Now Jackson is poised to represent Texas is the House of Representatives.
The doctor made news earlier in the pandemic after Trump told reporters he was taking the drug hydroxychloroquine to prevent contracting COVID-19.
'After numerous discussions he and I had regarding the evidence for and against the use of hydroxychloroquine ,we concluded the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks,' Conley later wrote, confirming that he had green-lit the treatment.
Trump did a regimen of hydroxychloroquine after his personal valet tested positive for the virus, as well as Vice President Mike Pence's spokeswoman Katie Miller, who is married to top Trump aide Stephen Miller.
Beyond that, Conley isn't as well known as Jackson and the prominent members of the coronavirus taskforce including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Deborah Birx and, more recently, Dr. Scott Atlas, whose addition to the taskforce was controversial.
But it was Conley who - at 1:05 a.m. - signed off on a memo that said the president and first lady had tested positive for the coronavirus.
'The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence,' he wrote.
Conley wrote the memo given out to the press in the early hours Friday morning that confirmed the president and first lady had tested positive for the virus
Conley gave an early evening update on the president's condition Friday before the White House announced he would be spending several days at Walter Reed
'The White House medical team and I will maintain a vigilant watch, and I appreciate the support provided by some of our country’s greatest medical professionals and institutions,' Conley wrote. 'Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any future developments.'
At 4:11 p.m. Friday, Conley sent out an update on the president's treatment and condition.
He said as a 'precautionary measure' Trump had received 'a single 8 gram dose of Regeneron’s polyclonal antibody cocktail.'
'He completed the infusion without incident,' Conley said.
'As of this afternoon the President remains fatigued but in good spirits. He’s being evaluated by a team of experts, and together we’ll be making recommendations to the President and First Lady in regards to next best steps,' the White House doctor added.