🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 53 (from laksa181)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa053.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/","crawl_time":1776550205,"first_indexed_time":1638374232,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,deadline!\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/ s443","src_root_hash":"14146668165935413053","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Donald Trump Tested Positive For Covid Before First Debate --- Report","meta_descriptions":["UPDATE, with Joe Biden and Anthony Fauci comments: Donald Trump tested positive for Covid-19 three days before the first presidential debate with Joe Biden last year, Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows reveals in a new book obtained by The Guardian."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Skip to main content\nDonald Trump Tested Positive For Covid Before First Presidential Debate, Former Chief Of Staff Reveals In New Book\n(AP Photo\/Evan Vucci)\nUPDATE, with Joe Biden and Anthony Fauci comments:\nDonald Trump\ntested positive for\nCovid\n-19 three days before the first presidential debate with Joe Biden last year, Trump’s former chief of staff\nMark Meadows\nreveals in\na new book\nobtained by The Guardian.\nThe Commission on Presidential Debates required that candidates test negative within 72 hours of the start time, but Meadows wrote that Trump was determined to not let the test stop him, according to the report.\nThe first presidential debate was on Sept. 29, 2020. Two days later, Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive, and the president was hospitalized on Oct. 2. But the White House at the time was opaque about the full extent of Trump’s testing results.\nTrump issued a statement on Wednesday in which he said, “The story of me having COVID prior to, or during, the first debate is Fake News. In fact, a test revealed that I did not have COVID prior to the debate.”\nMeadows’ memoir is due to be published next week.\nAccording to The Guardian, Meadows wrote that Trump did get a negative result from a different test after the positive result.\nBut the positive result did create a stir, Meadows wrote. He said that the White House doctor informed him of the president’s positive test result on Sept. 26, but Trump had just taken off on Marine One for a campaign rally. Meadows wrote that he called Trump and told him, “I’ve got some bad news. You’ve tested positive for Covid-19.”\nTrump’s reply, Meadows wrote, “rhyme[d] with ‘Oh spit, you’ve gotta be trucking lidding me’.”\nTrump’s test results were not publicly disclosed before the debate.\nOn the day of the event, Meadows wrote, according to The Guardian, “His face, for the most part at least, had regained its usual light bronze hue, and the gravel in his voice was gone. But the dark circles under his eyes had deepened. As we walked into the venue around five o’clock in the evening, I could tell that he was moving more slowly than usual. He walked like he was carrying a little extra weight on his back.”\nTrump’s positive test came after a Sept. 26 White House event to introduce Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee for the Supreme Court. A number of attendees to that event ended up testing positive for Covid.\nBiden was asked by a reporter on Wednesday about the report and Trump potentially putting him at risk during the debate.\n“I don’t think about the former president,” Biden said.\nAnthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser to the president, was also a member of Trump’s coronavirus task force. He told reporters on Wednesday, “I certainly was not aware of his test positivity or negativity.” He said that “if you test positive you should be quarantining yourself.”\nSubscribe to Deadline\nGet our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.\nSign Up\nNewswire\nSite","attrs_markdown":"![an image, when javascript is unavailable](https:\/\/sb.scorecardresearch.com\/p?c1=2&c2=6035310&c4=&cv=3.9&cj=1)\n\n[Skip to main content](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/#pagetop)\n\nOpen Mega Menu\n\n[Got A Tip?](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tip-line\/)\n\n[Deadline](https:\/\/deadline.com\/)\n\n## Follow Us:\n\n## site categories\n- [TV](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/tv\/)\n- [Film](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/film\/)\n- [Awards](https:\/\/deadline.com\/p\/awards-season\/)\n  - [Awards Hub](https:\/\/deadline.com\/p\/awards-season\/)\n  - [Digital Issues](https:\/\/issuu.com\/deadlinehollywood)\n- [Box Office](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/box-office\/)\n- [Biz](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/business\/)\n- [International](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/international\/)\n- [Politics](https:\/\/deadline.com\/h\/political-news\/)\n- [Theater](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/theater\/)\n- [Reviews](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/reviews\/)\n- [Obits](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/obituaries\/)\n- [Video](https:\/\/deadline.com\/video\/)\n- [Events](https:\/\/deadline.com\/p\/events-hub\/)\n- [Festivals](https:\/\/deadline.com\/p\/film-festival-news\/)\n- [Insider](https:\/\/deadline.com\/p\/insider-apple-shrinking-2024\/)\n- [News Alerts](https:\/\/cloud.email.deadline.com\/signup\/)\n\nMenu\n\n[Deadline](https:\/\/deadline.com\/)\n\nRead Next:\n\n### [Octavia Spencer On Docuseries ‘Lost Women Of Alaska’: “There Are So Many Voices That Need To Be Restored” – Contenders TV Documentary](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/octavia-spencer-lost-women-of-alaska-interview-1236865024\/)\n\n[Got A Tip?](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tip-line\/)   [Tip Us](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tip-line\/)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/deadline.com\/)\n- [TV](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/tv\/)\n- [News](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/news\/)\n# Donald Trump Tested Positive For Covid Before First Presidential Debate, Former Chief Of Staff Reveals In New Book\n\n![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ted-Johnson.jpg?w=193&h=193&crop=1)\n\nBy [Ted Johnson](https:\/\/deadline.com\/author\/ted-johnson\/)\n\n## [Ted Johnson](https:\/\/deadline.com\/author\/ted-johnson\/)\nPolitical Editor\n\n[@tedstew](https:\/\/twitter.com\/tedstew)\n\n#### More Stories By Ted\n- [Nexstar-Tegna Merger Frozen By Judge As Antitrust Battle Continues; CA AG Says “This Merger Is Illegal, Plain & Simple”](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/nexstar-tegna-merger-blocked-2-1236784770\/)\n- [Caitlyn Jenner Appeals To Trump Over His Policy That Requires Passports List A Person’s Birth Gender: “I Don’t Think This Was Really Thought Out”](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/caitlyn-jenner-trump-passport-birth-gender-1236864539\/)\n- [Pentagon Spokesman Defends Pete Hegseth’s Use Of Prayer Similar To Fake Ezekiel 25:17 Dialogue Used In ‘Pulp Fiction’](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/pete-hegseth-pulp-fiction-prayer-1236863181\/)\n\n[View All](https:\/\/deadline.com\/author\/ted-johnson\/)\n\nDecember 1, 2021 7:56am\n\n12Comments\n\n## Services to share this page.\n- [Share on Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?title=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book&sdk=joey&display=popup&ref=plugin&src=share_button&app_id=290526267722658&href=https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/ \"Share on Facebook\")\n- [Post](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/post?url=https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/&text=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate%2C%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book&via=Deadline \"Post\")\n- [Google Preferred](https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https%3A%2F%2Fdeadline.com \"Google Preferred\")\n- [Share to Flipboard](https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&url=https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/&title=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book \"Share to Flipboard\")\n- Show more sharing options\n- [Email](mailto:?subject=Deadline%20:%20Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book&body=https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/%20-%20Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book \"Email\")\n- [Share on LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=1&url=https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/&title=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book&summary&source=Deadline \"Share on LinkedIn\")\n- [Pin it](https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/link\/?url=https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/&description=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book \"Pin it\")\n- [Submit to Reddit](https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/&title=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book \"Submit to Reddit\")\n- [Post to Tumblr](https:\/\/www.tumblr.com\/widgets\/share\/tool\/preview?shareSource=legacy&canonicalUrl&url=https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/&posttype=link&title=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book \"Post to Tumblr\")\n- [Share on WhatsApp](whatsapp:\/\/send?text=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book%20-%20https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/ \"Share on WhatsApp\")\n- [Print This Page](https:\/\/deadline.com\/print-article\/1234882779?KeepThis=1&TB_iframe=1&height=500&width=750 \"Print This Page\")\n\n![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/AP20307847462786.jpg?w=681&h=383&crop=1)\n\n(AP Photo\/Evan Vucci)\n\n**UPDATE, with Joe Biden and Anthony Fauci comments:** [Donald Trump](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/) tested positive for [Covid](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/covid\/)\\-19 three days before the first presidential debate with Joe Biden last year, Trump’s former chief of staff [Mark Meadows](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/mark-meadows\/) reveals in [a new book](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2021\/dec\/01\/trump-tested-positive-covid-before-biden-debate-chief-staff-mark-meadows-book) obtained by The Guardian.\n\nThe Commission on Presidential Debates required that candidates test negative within 72 hours of the start time, but Meadows wrote that Trump was determined to not let the test stop him, according to the report.\n\nThe first presidential debate was on Sept. 29, 2020. Two days later, Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive, and the president was hospitalized on Oct. 2. But the White House at the time was opaque about the full extent of Trump’s testing results.\n\n### Related Stories\n[![Nexstar Media Group ](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Nexstar.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/nexstar-responds-tegna-merger-blocked-1236864817\/)\n\n[Legal](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/legal\/)\n\n### [Nexstar Decries \\$6.2B Tegna Deal Being Blocked By Judge, Vows Appeal](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/nexstar-responds-tegna-merger-blocked-1236864817\/)\n\n[![Nexstar Media Group and Tegna](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Nexstar-Media-Group-and-Tegna.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/nexstar-tegna-merger-blocked-2-1236784770\/)\n\n[Legal](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/legal\/)\n\n### [Nexstar-Tegna Merger Frozen By Judge As Antitrust Battle Continues; CA AG Says \"This Merger Is Illegal, Plain & Simple\"](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/nexstar-tegna-merger-blocked-2-1236784770\/)\n\nTrump issued a statement on Wednesday in which he said, “The story of me having COVID prior to, or during, the first debate is Fake News. In fact, a test revealed that I did not have COVID prior to the debate.”\n\n### Watch on Deadline\nMeadows’ memoir is due to be published next week.\n\nAccording to The Guardian, Meadows wrote that Trump did get a negative result from a different test after the positive result.\n\nBut the positive result did create a stir, Meadows wrote. He said that the White House doctor informed him of the president’s positive test result on Sept. 26, but Trump had just taken off on Marine One for a campaign rally. Meadows wrote that he called Trump and told him, “I’ve got some bad news. You’ve tested positive for Covid-19.”\n\nTrump’s reply, Meadows wrote, “rhyme\\[d\\] with ‘Oh spit, you’ve gotta be trucking lidding me’.”\n\nTrump’s test results were not publicly disclosed before the debate.\n\nOn the day of the event, Meadows wrote, according to The Guardian, “His face, for the most part at least, had regained its usual light bronze hue, and the gravel in his voice was gone. But the dark circles under his eyes had deepened. As we walked into the venue around five o’clock in the evening, I could tell that he was moving more slowly than usual. He walked like he was carrying a little extra weight on his back.”\n\nTrump’s positive test came after a Sept. 26 White House event to introduce Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee for the Supreme Court. A number of attendees to that event ended up testing positive for Covid.\n\nBiden was asked by a reporter on Wednesday about the report and Trump potentially putting him at risk during the debate.\n\n“I don’t think about the former president,” Biden said.\n\nAnthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser to the president, was also a member of Trump’s coronavirus task force. He told reporters on Wednesday, “I certainly was not aware of his test positivity or negativity.” He said that “if you test positive you should be quarantining yourself.”\n\n## Must Read Stories\nHide Articles\n\n- ### [Judge Freezes Tegna Merger As Antitrust Battle Continues; Appeal Vowed](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/nexstar\/)\n  ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Nexstar-Tegna-no-deal.jpg?w=100&h=100&crop=1)\n- ### [‘The Batman Part II’: Charles Dance Joins Robert Pattinson In DC Studios Sequel](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/the-batman-part-ii-charles-dance-1236864541\/)\n  ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Charles-Dance-Robert-Pattinson.jpg?w=100&h=100&crop=1)\n- ### [‘Super Mario’ Still The Star With \\$30M; ‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’ At \\$13M](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/box-office-lee-cronins-the-mummy-super-mario-galaxy-movie-1236864337\/)\n  ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/The-Super-Mario-Galaxy-Movie-Lee-Cronins-The-Mummy.jpg?w=100&h=100&crop=1)\n- ### [WGA West Staff Votes To Stay On Strike As Standoff Hits 2-Month Mark](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/labor\/)\n  ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1252539255.jpg?w=100&h=100&crop=1)\n\n## Read More About:\n- [Breaking News](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/breaking-news\/)\n- [Covid](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/covid\/)\n- [Donald Trump](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/)\n- [Mark Meadows](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/mark-meadows\/)\n\n[12 Comments](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/#comments)\n\n## Subscribe to Deadline\nGet our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.\n\n[Sign Up](https:\/\/cloud.email.deadline.com\/signup)\n## 12 Comments\n- Another Trump cover up exposed\n  \n  on December 1, 2021 10:31 am\n  \n  So the Trump White House covered up the positive-negative covid test results of Trump before the first presidential debate. That’s just par for the course for that administration. What is shocking is that reputed Trump loyalist Meadows would include this incriminating tidbit in his memoir. Whatever happened to omerta among Trump loyalists?\n- Captain America\n  \n  on December 1, 2021 10:03 am\n  \n  We can just hope that man never sets foot in the White House again.\n  \n  History has him on camera inciting a vicious mob that went on to attack the heart of our government after he feverishly brainstormed ways to overturn the results of a free and fair election. We have him recorded on a call where he told Georgia’s secretary of state to “find” more votes after several recounts still determined he lost.\n  \n  Trump defenders even now have no credible defense for what he did after the election, specifically on Jan. 6th. No evidence exists of a fraudulent or rigged election, and audit after audit and recount after a recount netted the same result: that he lost.\n  \n  The damage to our democracy and reputation to the world will be judged by historians, but in the meantime, he does not deserve any welcome to Washington DC, unless it’s by a subpoena or an arrest warrant.\n- Anonymous\n  \n  on December 1, 2021 9:58 am\n  \n  Positive then negative. Non story\n  - Anonymous\n    \n    on December 2, 2021 7:55 pm\n    \n    False positive tests are exceedingly rare. False positive tests are common. The negative result after the positive didn’t negate it, and the positive was clearly accurate, as the days the followed proved. It’s a MASSIVE story. Trump endangered hundreds and hundreds of people over that week that he lied and continued to hold maskless, indoor events.\n  - Anon\n    \n    on December 1, 2021 12:39 pm\n    \n    Except he WAS positive. He was sick. Super irresponsible and totally on brand.\n- Anonymous\n  \n  on December 1, 2021 9:53 am\n  \n  Meadows won’t reprint swear words? He has BLOOD on his hands.\n- Brian\n  \n  on December 1, 2021 9:06 am\n  \n  Is there nothing more pressing going on with the current administration to report on?\n  - Barbara Millar\n    \n    on December 5, 2021 5:05 pm\n    \n    There is no moving forward until Trump is made accountable for all the damage he caused. If he gets back in 2024, this country will no longer be a democracy.\n  - Anonymous\n    \n    on December 1, 2021 9:57 am\n    \n    Meadows wrote a book. It’s coming out. It stands to reason it will be reported on.\n  - Anonymous\n    \n    on December 1, 2021 9:49 am\n    \n    You mean besides Biden’s infrastructure win which will pump billions into red states whose reps voted against it? How about the lowest jobless claims in 50 years and pulling our troops out of harm’s way in Afghanistan, thus ending the 20 year Republican taxpayer-funded boondoggle that was bankrupting the Treasury to finance GOP campaigns? I’d say Biden has accomplished a lot in his first year. Trump had four years to git’er done and did nothing but lie, golf, grift and get himself impeached twice. Democrats are Making America Great Again.\n    - Anonymous\n      \n      on December 5, 2021 5:12 pm\n      \n      Agree\n  - Sam\n    \n    on December 1, 2021 9:43 am\n    \n    Agree with you. He’s out. Lets move forward please.\n## Sidebar\n### Trending on Deadline\n- [1 'The Batman Part II': Charles Dance Joins Robert Pattinson In DC Studios Sequel ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Charles-Dance-Robert-Pattinson.jpg?w=150)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/the-batman-part-ii-charles-dance-1236864541\/)\n- [2 Noah Wyle & R. Scott Gemmill Address Fans Asking For A 'The Pitt' Night Shift Spinoff Series, And What Ayesha Harris' Future On The Show Looks Like ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/noah-wyle-ayesha-harris-ambar-martinez.jpg?w=150)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/noah-wyle-scott-gemmill-the-pitt-night-shift-spinoff-1236864350\/)\n- [3 'Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Still The Star With \\$30M, 'Lee Cronin's The Mummy' Walks To \\$13M - Saturday Box Office Update ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/The-Super-Mario-Galaxy-Movie-Lee-Cronins-The-Mummy.jpg?w=150)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/box-office-lee-cronins-the-mummy-super-mario-galaxy-movie-1236864337\/)\n- [4 'Outlander' Says Goodbye To Longtime Character In Season 8 ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ols8-807-072524-0058-a-f.jpg?w=150)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/outlander-fergus-death-season-8-1236864883\/)\n- [5 Miranda Lets The Zingers Fly In New 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' Footage At CinemaCon ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/The-Devil-Wears-Prada-2_682c4a.jpg?w=150)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/the-devil-wears-prada-2-new-footage-cinemacon-1236863441\/)\n- [6 Charlize Theron Censures Timothée Chalamet Over \"Reckless\" Comments; Says AI May Soon \"Be Able To Do\" His Job But Will Not Replace Ballet & Opera ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/charlize-chalamet.jpg?w=150)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/charlize-theron-timothee-chalamet-ballet-opera-ai-1236865017\/)\n- [7 Elle Fanning Is \"Really Proud\" Of How Nudity Is Used In 'Margo's Got Money Troubles': \"Never The Focal Point\" ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Elle-Fanning-Margo.jpg?w=150)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/elle-fanning-proud-nudity-margos-got-money-troubles-1236864814\/)\n- [8 Aubrey Plaza On \"Really Weird\" Experience Pitching 'Kevin' Animated Series With Ex-Boyfriend About Their Cat: \"Like An Acid Trip For Me\" ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271059586.jpg?w=150)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/aubrey-plaza-pitching-kevin-with-ex-about-their-cat-1236864956\/)\n- [9 Christopher Meloni Thanks 'L\\&O' Fans For The \"Great Ride\" While Mariska Hargitay Pledges \"P4L\" To Longtime Co-Star ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/svu.jpg?w=150)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/christopher-meloni-mariska-hargitay-law-order-1236864308\/)\n- [10 Madonna Joins Sabrina Carpenter For Coachella Weekend 2 Set, Featuring Geena Davis & Shirtless Terry Crews ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sabrina-Carpenter-Terry-Crews-Madonna-Geena-Davis-3-shot.jpg?w=150)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/madonna-joins-sabrina-carpenter-coachella-weekend-2-1236864925\/)\n\n[Deadline](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/)\n\nSignup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters\n\nBy providing your information, you agree to our [Terms of Use](https:\/\/pmc.com\/terms-of-use) and our [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/pmc.com\/privacy-policy). We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/policies.google.com\/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https:\/\/policies.google.com\/terms) apply.\n\n### [Latest TV News](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/tv\/)\n- [Octavia Spencer On Docuseries 'Lost Women Of Alaska': \"There Are So Many Voices That Need To Be Restored\" - Contenders TV Documentary ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Lost-Women-Of-Alaska-Contenders-Documentary.jpg?w=200&h=112&crop=1)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/octavia-spencer-lost-women-of-alaska-interview-1236865024\/)\n- ['Mr. Scorsese' Director Rebecca Miller Got Martin Scorsese To Open Up, Then Covid Gave Him Time - Contenders TV Documentary ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Mr-Scorsese-Contenders-Documentary.jpg?w=200&h=112&crop=1)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/mr-scorsese-documentary-director-interview-1236865021\/)\n- [‘John Candy: I Like Me’ Director Colin Hanks Says Of Iconic Actor's Style: “There’s A Little Bit Of John In Every Performance” - Contenders TV Documentary ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Candy-I-Like-Me-Contenders-Documentary.jpg?w=200&h=112&crop=1)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/john-candy-i-like-me-director-colin-hanks-interview-1236864978\/)\n- ['Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery' Director Looks Back On Groundbreaking '90s Fest & Think Time Is Right For its Comeback ![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Lilith-Fair-Building-A-Mystery-Contenders-Documentary.jpg?w=200&h=112&crop=1)](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/04\/lilith-fair-building-a-mystery-director-interview-1236864995\/)\n### Marketplace\n## Newswire\n### Deadline\n- [About Us](https:\/\/deadline.com\/about-dhd\/)\n- [Advertise](https:\/\/deadline.com\/advertise)\n\n### Legal\n- [Terms of Use](https:\/\/pmc.com\/terms-of-use\/)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/pmc.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n- [Accessibility](https:\/\/deadline.com\/accessibility\/)\n- [AdChoices](http:\/\/optout.aboutads.info\/)\n- [California Privacy Rights](https:\/\/pmc.com\/privacy-policy\/#california)\n- [Your Privacy Choices](https:\/\/pmc.com\/opt-out)\n- [EU Privacy Preferences](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/)\n\n### Sitemap\n- [TV](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/tv\/)\n- [Film](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/film\/)\n- [Awards](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/awards\/)\n- [Box Office](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/box-office\/)\n- [Business](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/business\/)\n- [International](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/international\/)\n\n### Connect with Us\nGet our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks\n\n### Have a Tip?\nWe want to hear from you! Send us a tip using our annonymous form.\n\n[Send Us a Tip](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tip-line\/)\n\n### Stay in the Know\nSign up for our breaking news alerts\n\nBy providing your information, you agree to our [Terms of Use](https:\/\/pmc.com\/terms-of-use) and our [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/pmc.com\/privacy-policy). We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/policies.google.com\/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https:\/\/policies.google.com\/terms) apply.\n\nPMC\n\nDeadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved.\n\nPowered by  [WordPress.com VIP](https:\/\/vip.wordpress.com\/?utm_source=vip_powered_wpcom&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=VIP%20Footer%20Credit)\n\nOur Sites\n\n- [Art in America](https:\/\/www.artnews.com\/c\/art-in-america\/)\n- [Artforum](https:\/\/www.artforum.com\/)\n- [ARTnews](https:\/\/www.artnews.com\/)\n- [Billboard](https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/)\n- [BlogHer](https:\/\/www.blogher.com\/)\n- [Deadline](https:\/\/deadline.com\/)\n- [Flow Space](https:\/\/www.theflowspace.com\/)\n- [Footwear News](https:\/\/footwearnews.com\/)\n- [Gold Derby](https:\/\/www.goldderby.com\/)\n- [IndieWire](https:\/\/www.indiewire.com\/)\n- [Robb Report](https:\/\/robbreport.com\/)\n- [Rolling Stone](https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/)\n- [SheKnows](https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/)\n- [Soaps](https:\/\/soaps.sheknows.com\/)\n- [Sourcing Journal](https:\/\/sourcingjournal.com\/)\n- [Sportico](https:\/\/www.sportico.com\/)\n- [StyleCaster](https:\/\/stylecaster.com\/)\n- [The Hollywood Reporter](https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/)\n- [Variety](https:\/\/variety.com\/)\n- [Vibe](https:\/\/www.vibe.com\/)\n- [WWD](https:\/\/wwd.com\/)\n\n### Our Sites\n- [Art in America](https:\/\/www.artnews.com\/c\/art-in-america\/)\n- [Artforum](https:\/\/www.artforum.com\/)\n- [ARTnews](https:\/\/www.artnews.com\/)\n- [Billboard](https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/)\n- [BlogHer](https:\/\/www.blogher.com\/)\n- [Deadline](https:\/\/deadline.com\/)\n- [Flow Space](https:\/\/www.theflowspace.com\/)\n- [Footwear News](https:\/\/footwearnews.com\/)\n- [Gold Derby](https:\/\/www.goldderby.com\/)\n- [IndieWire](https:\/\/www.indiewire.com\/)\n- [Robb Report](https:\/\/robbreport.com\/)\n- [Rolling Stone](https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/)\n- [SheKnows](https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/)\n- [Soaps](https:\/\/soaps.sheknows.com\/)\n- [Sourcing Journal](https:\/\/sourcingjournal.com\/)\n- [Sportico](https:\/\/www.sportico.com\/)\n- [StyleCaster](https:\/\/stylecaster.com\/)\n- [The Hollywood Reporter](https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/)\n- [Variety](https:\/\/variety.com\/)\n- [Vibe](https:\/\/www.vibe.com\/)\n- [WWD](https:\/\/wwd.com\/)\n## Site\nClose the menu\n\n- ### [Account](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/)  Expand the sub-menu\n  - [Manage Account](https:\/\/deadline.com\/my-account\/)\n  - [Log Out](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/)\n- ### [TV](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/tv\/)  Expand the sub-menu\n  - [Castings](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/casting\/)\n  - [Ratings](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/ratings\/)\n  - [Late-Night](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/late-night-tv\/)\n  - [Primetime Pilot Panic](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/primetime-pilot-panic\/)\n- ### [Film](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/film\/)  Expand the sub-menu\n  - [Festivals](https:\/\/deadline.com\/p\/film-festival-news\/)\n  - [Reviews](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/reviews\/)\n  - [Castings](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/casting\/)\n  - [Acquisitions](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/acquisitions\/)\n  - [Documentary](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/documentary\/)\n- ### [Awards](https:\/\/deadline.com\/p\/awards-season\/)  Expand the sub-menu\n  - [Awards Hub](https:\/\/deadline.com\/p\/awards-season\/)\n  - [Emmys](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/emmys\/)\n  - [Oscars](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/oscars\/)\n  - [Tonys](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/tony-awards\/)\n- ### [Box Office](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/box-office\/)  Expand the sub-menu\n  - [International B.O.](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/international-box-office\/)\n  - [Specialty B.O.](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/specialty-box-office\/)\n  - [Broadway B.O.](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/broadway-box-office\/)\n- ### [Business](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/business\/)  Expand the sub-menu\n  - [Politics](https:\/\/deadline.com\/h\/political-news\/)\n  - [Legal](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/legal\/)\n  - [Executives](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/executives\/)\n  - [Agencies](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/agencies\/)\n- ### [International](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/international\/)  Expand the sub-menu\n  - [Festivals](https:\/\/deadline.com\/p\/film-festival-news\/)\n  - [Film](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/film\/)\n  - [TV](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/tv\/)\n  - [International Insider](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/deadline-international-insider\/)\n- ### [Video](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/video\/)  Expand the sub-menu\n  - [The Actor's Side](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/the-actors-side\/)\n  - [Behind The Lens](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/behind-the-lens\/)\n  - [Take Ten](https:\/\/deadline.com\/vcategory\/take-ten\/)\n  - [Comedy Means Business Podcast](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/comedy-means-business-podcast\/)\n  - [The Process](https:\/\/deadline.com\/vcategory\/the-process\/)\n- ### [More](https:\/\/deadline.com\/)  Expand the sub-menu\n  - [Obituaries](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/obituaries\/)\n  - [Theater](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/theater\/)\n  - [Music](https:\/\/deadline.com\/v\/music\/)\n  - [Podcasts](https:\/\/deadline.com\/category\/podcast\/)\n  - [Insider](https:\/\/insider.deadline.com\/)\n\n### Follow Us\n### Alerts & Newsletters\nBy providing your information, you agree to our [Terms of Use](https:\/\/pmc.com\/terms-of-use) and our [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/pmc.com\/privacy-policy). We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/policies.google.com\/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https:\/\/policies.google.com\/terms) apply.\n\n- [Advertise](https:\/\/deadline.com\/advertising-deadline-hollywood\/)\n- [About Us](https:\/\/deadline.com\/about-dhd\/)\n- [Give us feedback](https:\/\/deadline.com\/contact-us\/)\n- [Leave us a tip](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tip-line\/)\n\nDeadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved.\n\nad\n\n![Quantcast](https:\/\/pixel.quantserve.com\/pixel?a.1=p-0f0nSqEQ_DwA6&a.2=p-31f3D02tYU8zY)","attrs_readable_markdown":"[Skip to main content](https:\/\/deadline.com\/2021\/12\/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779\/#pagetop)\n\n## Donald Trump Tested Positive For Covid Before First Presidential Debate, Former Chief Of Staff Reveals In New Book\n![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ted-Johnson.jpg?w=193&h=193&crop=1)\n\n![](https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/AP20307847462786.jpg?w=681&h=383&crop=1)\n\n(AP Photo\/Evan Vucci)\n\n**UPDATE, with Joe Biden and Anthony Fauci comments:** [Donald Trump](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/) tested positive for [Covid](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/covid\/)\\-19 three days before the first presidential debate with Joe Biden last year, Trump’s former chief of staff [Mark Meadows](https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/mark-meadows\/) reveals in [a new book](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2021\/dec\/01\/trump-tested-positive-covid-before-biden-debate-chief-staff-mark-meadows-book) obtained by The Guardian.\n\nThe Commission on Presidential Debates required that candidates test negative within 72 hours of the start time, but Meadows wrote that Trump was determined to not let the test stop him, according to the report.\n\nThe first presidential debate was on Sept. 29, 2020. Two days later, Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive, and the president was hospitalized on Oct. 2. But the White House at the time was opaque about the full extent of Trump’s testing results.\n\nTrump issued a statement on Wednesday in which he said, “The story of me having COVID prior to, or during, the first debate is Fake News. In fact, a test revealed that I did not have COVID prior to the debate.”\n\nMeadows’ memoir is due to be published next week.\n\nAccording to The Guardian, Meadows wrote that Trump did get a negative result from a different test after the positive result.\n\nBut the positive result did create a stir, Meadows wrote. He said that the White House doctor informed him of the president’s positive test result on Sept. 26, but Trump had just taken off on Marine One for a campaign rally. Meadows wrote that he called Trump and told him, “I’ve got some bad news. You’ve tested positive for Covid-19.”\n\nTrump’s reply, Meadows wrote, “rhyme\\[d\\] with ‘Oh spit, you’ve gotta be trucking lidding me’.”\n\nTrump’s test results were not publicly disclosed before the debate.\n\nOn the day of the event, Meadows wrote, according to The Guardian, “His face, for the most part at least, had regained its usual light bronze hue, and the gravel in his voice was gone. But the dark circles under his eyes had deepened. As we walked into the venue around five o’clock in the evening, I could tell that he was moving more slowly than usual. He walked like he was carrying a little extra weight on his back.”\n\nTrump’s positive test came after a Sept. 26 White House event to introduce Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee for the Supreme Court. A number of attendees to that event ended up testing positive for Covid.\n\nBiden was asked by a reporter on Wednesday about the report and Trump potentially putting him at risk during the debate.\n\n“I don’t think about the former president,” Biden said.\n\nAnthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser to the president, was also a member of Trump’s coronavirus task force. He told reporters on Wednesday, “I certainly was not aware of his test positivity or negativity.” He said that “if you test positive you should be quarantining yourself.”\n\n## Subscribe to Deadline\nGet our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.\n\n[Sign Up](https:\/\/cloud.email.deadline.com\/signup)\n## Newswire\n## Site","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"{\"\/News\":892,\"\/News\/Politics\":838,\"\/News\/Politics\/Campaigns_and_Elections\":741,\"\/People_and_Society\":181}","ml_types_json":"{\"\/Article\":999,\"\/Article\/News_Update\":997}","ml_intent_types_json":"{\"Informational\":998}","meta_language":"en-us","attrs_author":"Ted Johnson","attrs_publish_time":1638374202,"attrs_original_publish_time":1638374202,"attrs_is_republished":0,"attrs_nr_words":"2150","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"525","body_ext_links_number":57,"body_int_links_number":107,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":0,"props_was_rendered":1,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":909,"download_ttfb_msec":886,"download_size":103228}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

9 days ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0.3 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property

Value

URL

https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/

Last Crawled

2026-04-18 22:10:05 (9 days ago)

First Indexed

2021-12-01 15:57:12 (4 years ago)

HTTP Status Code

200

Content

Meta Title

Donald Trump Tested Positive For Covid Before First Debate --- Report

Meta Description

UPDATE, with Joe Biden and Anthony Fauci comments: Donald Trump tested positive for Covid-19 three days before the first presidential debate with Joe Biden last year, Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows reveals in a new book obtained by The Guardian.

Meta Canonical

null

Boilerpipe Text

Skip to main content Donald Trump Tested Positive For Covid Before First Presidential Debate, Former Chief Of Staff Reveals In New Book (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) UPDATE, with Joe Biden and Anthony Fauci comments: Donald Trump tested positive for Covid -19 three days before the first presidential debate with Joe Biden last year, Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows reveals in a new book obtained by The Guardian. The Commission on Presidential Debates required that candidates test negative within 72 hours of the start time, but Meadows wrote that Trump was determined to not let the test stop him, according to the report. The first presidential debate was on Sept. 29, 2020. Two days later, Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive, and the president was hospitalized on Oct. 2. But the White House at the time was opaque about the full extent of Trump’s testing results. Trump issued a statement on Wednesday in which he said, “The story of me having COVID prior to, or during, the first debate is Fake News. In fact, a test revealed that I did not have COVID prior to the debate.” Meadows’ memoir is due to be published next week. According to The Guardian, Meadows wrote that Trump did get a negative result from a different test after the positive result. But the positive result did create a stir, Meadows wrote. He said that the White House doctor informed him of the president’s positive test result on Sept. 26, but Trump had just taken off on Marine One for a campaign rally. Meadows wrote that he called Trump and told him, “I’ve got some bad news. You’ve tested positive for Covid-19.” Trump’s reply, Meadows wrote, “rhyme[d] with ‘Oh spit, you’ve gotta be trucking lidding me’.” Trump’s test results were not publicly disclosed before the debate. On the day of the event, Meadows wrote, according to The Guardian, “His face, for the most part at least, had regained its usual light bronze hue, and the gravel in his voice was gone. But the dark circles under his eyes had deepened. As we walked into the venue around five o’clock in the evening, I could tell that he was moving more slowly than usual. He walked like he was carrying a little extra weight on his back.” Trump’s positive test came after a Sept. 26 White House event to introduce Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee for the Supreme Court. A number of attendees to that event ended up testing positive for Covid. Biden was asked by a reporter on Wednesday about the report and Trump potentially putting him at risk during the debate. “I don’t think about the former president,” Biden said. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser to the president, was also a member of Trump’s coronavirus task force. He told reporters on Wednesday, “I certainly was not aware of his test positivity or negativity.” He said that “if you test positive you should be quarantining yourself.” Subscribe to Deadline Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy. Sign Up Newswire Site

Markdown

![an image, when javascript is unavailable](https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6035310&c4=&cv=3.9&cj=1) [Skip to main content](https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/#pagetop) Open Mega Menu [Got A Tip?](https://deadline.com/tip-line/) [Deadline](https://deadline.com/) ## Follow Us: ## site categories - [TV](https://deadline.com/v/tv/) - [Film](https://deadline.com/v/film/) - [Awards](https://deadline.com/p/awards-season/) - [Awards Hub](https://deadline.com/p/awards-season/) - [Digital Issues](https://issuu.com/deadlinehollywood) - [Box Office](https://deadline.com/v/box-office/) - [Biz](https://deadline.com/v/business/) - [International](https://deadline.com/v/international/) - [Politics](https://deadline.com/h/political-news/) - [Theater](https://deadline.com/v/theater/) - [Reviews](https://deadline.com/category/reviews/) - [Obits](https://deadline.com/category/obituaries/) - [Video](https://deadline.com/video/) - [Events](https://deadline.com/p/events-hub/) - [Festivals](https://deadline.com/p/film-festival-news/) - [Insider](https://deadline.com/p/insider-apple-shrinking-2024/) - [News Alerts](https://cloud.email.deadline.com/signup/) Menu [Deadline](https://deadline.com/) Read Next: ### [Octavia Spencer On Docuseries ‘Lost Women Of Alaska’: “There Are So Many Voices That Need To Be Restored” – Contenders TV Documentary](https://deadline.com/2026/04/octavia-spencer-lost-women-of-alaska-interview-1236865024/) [Got A Tip?](https://deadline.com/tip-line/) [Tip Us](https://deadline.com/tip-line/) - [Home](https://deadline.com/) - [TV](https://deadline.com/v/tv/) - [News](https://deadline.com/category/news/) # Donald Trump Tested Positive For Covid Before First Presidential Debate, Former Chief Of Staff Reveals In New Book ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ted-Johnson.jpg?w=193&h=193&crop=1) By [Ted Johnson](https://deadline.com/author/ted-johnson/) ## [Ted Johnson](https://deadline.com/author/ted-johnson/) Political Editor [@tedstew](https://twitter.com/tedstew) #### More Stories By Ted - [Nexstar-Tegna Merger Frozen By Judge As Antitrust Battle Continues; CA AG Says “This Merger Is Illegal, Plain & Simple”](https://deadline.com/2026/04/nexstar-tegna-merger-blocked-2-1236784770/) - [Caitlyn Jenner Appeals To Trump Over His Policy That Requires Passports List A Person’s Birth Gender: “I Don’t Think This Was Really Thought Out”](https://deadline.com/2026/04/caitlyn-jenner-trump-passport-birth-gender-1236864539/) - [Pentagon Spokesman Defends Pete Hegseth’s Use Of Prayer Similar To Fake Ezekiel 25:17 Dialogue Used In ‘Pulp Fiction’](https://deadline.com/2026/04/pete-hegseth-pulp-fiction-prayer-1236863181/) [View All](https://deadline.com/author/ted-johnson/) December 1, 2021 7:56am 12Comments ## Services to share this page. - [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?title=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book&sdk=joey&display=popup&ref=plugin&src=share_button&app_id=290526267722658&href=https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/ "Share on Facebook") - [Post](https://twitter.com/intent/post?url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/&text=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate%2C%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book&via=Deadline "Post") - [Google Preferred](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=https%3A%2F%2Fdeadline.com "Google Preferred") - [Share to Flipboard](https://share.flipboard.com/bookmarklet/popout?v=2&url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/&title=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book "Share to Flipboard") - Show more sharing options - [Email](mailto:?subject=Deadline%20:%20Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book&body=https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/%20-%20Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book "Email") - [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=1&url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/&title=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book&summary&source=Deadline "Share on LinkedIn") - [Pin it](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/&description=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book "Pin it") - [Submit to Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/&title=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book "Submit to Reddit") - [Post to Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool/preview?shareSource=legacy&canonicalUrl&url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/&posttype=link&title=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book "Post to Tumblr") - [Share on WhatsApp](whatsapp://send?text=Donald%20Trump%20Tested%20Positive%20For%20Covid%20Before%20First%20Presidential%20Debate,%20Former%20Chief%20Of%20Staff%20Reveals%20In%20New%20Book%20-%20https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/ "Share on WhatsApp") - [Print This Page](https://deadline.com/print-article/1234882779?KeepThis=1&TB_iframe=1&height=500&width=750 "Print This Page") ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AP20307847462786.jpg?w=681&h=383&crop=1) (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) **UPDATE, with Joe Biden and Anthony Fauci comments:** [Donald Trump](https://deadline.com/tag/donald-trump/) tested positive for [Covid](https://deadline.com/tag/covid/)\-19 three days before the first presidential debate with Joe Biden last year, Trump’s former chief of staff [Mark Meadows](https://deadline.com/tag/mark-meadows/) reveals in [a new book](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/01/trump-tested-positive-covid-before-biden-debate-chief-staff-mark-meadows-book) obtained by The Guardian. The Commission on Presidential Debates required that candidates test negative within 72 hours of the start time, but Meadows wrote that Trump was determined to not let the test stop him, according to the report. The first presidential debate was on Sept. 29, 2020. Two days later, Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive, and the president was hospitalized on Oct. 2. But the White House at the time was opaque about the full extent of Trump’s testing results. ### Related Stories [![Nexstar Media Group ](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Nexstar.jpg?w=300)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/nexstar-responds-tegna-merger-blocked-1236864817/) [Legal](https://deadline.com/category/legal/) ### [Nexstar Decries \$6.2B Tegna Deal Being Blocked By Judge, Vows Appeal](https://deadline.com/2026/04/nexstar-responds-tegna-merger-blocked-1236864817/) [![Nexstar Media Group and Tegna](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Nexstar-Media-Group-and-Tegna.jpg?w=300)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/nexstar-tegna-merger-blocked-2-1236784770/) [Legal](https://deadline.com/category/legal/) ### [Nexstar-Tegna Merger Frozen By Judge As Antitrust Battle Continues; CA AG Says "This Merger Is Illegal, Plain & Simple"](https://deadline.com/2026/04/nexstar-tegna-merger-blocked-2-1236784770/) Trump issued a statement on Wednesday in which he said, “The story of me having COVID prior to, or during, the first debate is Fake News. In fact, a test revealed that I did not have COVID prior to the debate.” ### Watch on Deadline Meadows’ memoir is due to be published next week. According to The Guardian, Meadows wrote that Trump did get a negative result from a different test after the positive result. But the positive result did create a stir, Meadows wrote. He said that the White House doctor informed him of the president’s positive test result on Sept. 26, but Trump had just taken off on Marine One for a campaign rally. Meadows wrote that he called Trump and told him, “I’ve got some bad news. You’ve tested positive for Covid-19.” Trump’s reply, Meadows wrote, “rhyme\[d\] with ‘Oh spit, you’ve gotta be trucking lidding me’.” Trump’s test results were not publicly disclosed before the debate. On the day of the event, Meadows wrote, according to The Guardian, “His face, for the most part at least, had regained its usual light bronze hue, and the gravel in his voice was gone. But the dark circles under his eyes had deepened. As we walked into the venue around five o’clock in the evening, I could tell that he was moving more slowly than usual. He walked like he was carrying a little extra weight on his back.” Trump’s positive test came after a Sept. 26 White House event to introduce Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee for the Supreme Court. A number of attendees to that event ended up testing positive for Covid. Biden was asked by a reporter on Wednesday about the report and Trump potentially putting him at risk during the debate. “I don’t think about the former president,” Biden said. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser to the president, was also a member of Trump’s coronavirus task force. He told reporters on Wednesday, “I certainly was not aware of his test positivity or negativity.” He said that “if you test positive you should be quarantining yourself.” ## Must Read Stories Hide Articles - ### [Judge Freezes Tegna Merger As Antitrust Battle Continues; Appeal Vowed](https://deadline.com/tag/nexstar/) ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Nexstar-Tegna-no-deal.jpg?w=100&h=100&crop=1) - ### [‘The Batman Part II’: Charles Dance Joins Robert Pattinson In DC Studios Sequel](https://deadline.com/2026/04/the-batman-part-ii-charles-dance-1236864541/) ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Charles-Dance-Robert-Pattinson.jpg?w=100&h=100&crop=1) - ### [‘Super Mario’ Still The Star With \$30M; ‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’ At \$13M](https://deadline.com/2026/04/box-office-lee-cronins-the-mummy-super-mario-galaxy-movie-1236864337/) ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Super-Mario-Galaxy-Movie-Lee-Cronins-The-Mummy.jpg?w=100&h=100&crop=1) - ### [WGA West Staff Votes To Stay On Strike As Standoff Hits 2-Month Mark](https://deadline.com/tag/labor/) ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-1252539255.jpg?w=100&h=100&crop=1) ## Read More About: - [Breaking News](https://deadline.com/tag/breaking-news/) - [Covid](https://deadline.com/tag/covid/) - [Donald Trump](https://deadline.com/tag/donald-trump/) - [Mark Meadows](https://deadline.com/tag/mark-meadows/) [12 Comments](https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/#comments) ## Subscribe to Deadline Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy. [Sign Up](https://cloud.email.deadline.com/signup) ## 12 Comments - Another Trump cover up exposed on December 1, 2021 10:31 am So the Trump White House covered up the positive-negative covid test results of Trump before the first presidential debate. That’s just par for the course for that administration. What is shocking is that reputed Trump loyalist Meadows would include this incriminating tidbit in his memoir. Whatever happened to omerta among Trump loyalists? - Captain America on December 1, 2021 10:03 am We can just hope that man never sets foot in the White House again. History has him on camera inciting a vicious mob that went on to attack the heart of our government after he feverishly brainstormed ways to overturn the results of a free and fair election. We have him recorded on a call where he told Georgia’s secretary of state to “find” more votes after several recounts still determined he lost. Trump defenders even now have no credible defense for what he did after the election, specifically on Jan. 6th. No evidence exists of a fraudulent or rigged election, and audit after audit and recount after a recount netted the same result: that he lost. The damage to our democracy and reputation to the world will be judged by historians, but in the meantime, he does not deserve any welcome to Washington DC, unless it’s by a subpoena or an arrest warrant. - Anonymous on December 1, 2021 9:58 am Positive then negative. Non story - Anonymous on December 2, 2021 7:55 pm False positive tests are exceedingly rare. False positive tests are common. The negative result after the positive didn’t negate it, and the positive was clearly accurate, as the days the followed proved. It’s a MASSIVE story. Trump endangered hundreds and hundreds of people over that week that he lied and continued to hold maskless, indoor events. - Anon on December 1, 2021 12:39 pm Except he WAS positive. He was sick. Super irresponsible and totally on brand. - Anonymous on December 1, 2021 9:53 am Meadows won’t reprint swear words? He has BLOOD on his hands. - Brian on December 1, 2021 9:06 am Is there nothing more pressing going on with the current administration to report on? - Barbara Millar on December 5, 2021 5:05 pm There is no moving forward until Trump is made accountable for all the damage he caused. If he gets back in 2024, this country will no longer be a democracy. - Anonymous on December 1, 2021 9:57 am Meadows wrote a book. It’s coming out. It stands to reason it will be reported on. - Anonymous on December 1, 2021 9:49 am You mean besides Biden’s infrastructure win which will pump billions into red states whose reps voted against it? How about the lowest jobless claims in 50 years and pulling our troops out of harm’s way in Afghanistan, thus ending the 20 year Republican taxpayer-funded boondoggle that was bankrupting the Treasury to finance GOP campaigns? I’d say Biden has accomplished a lot in his first year. Trump had four years to git’er done and did nothing but lie, golf, grift and get himself impeached twice. Democrats are Making America Great Again. - Anonymous on December 5, 2021 5:12 pm Agree - Sam on December 1, 2021 9:43 am Agree with you. He’s out. Lets move forward please. ## Sidebar ### Trending on Deadline - [1 'The Batman Part II': Charles Dance Joins Robert Pattinson In DC Studios Sequel ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Charles-Dance-Robert-Pattinson.jpg?w=150)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/the-batman-part-ii-charles-dance-1236864541/) - [2 Noah Wyle & R. Scott Gemmill Address Fans Asking For A 'The Pitt' Night Shift Spinoff Series, And What Ayesha Harris' Future On The Show Looks Like ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/noah-wyle-ayesha-harris-ambar-martinez.jpg?w=150)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/noah-wyle-scott-gemmill-the-pitt-night-shift-spinoff-1236864350/) - [3 'Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Still The Star With \$30M, 'Lee Cronin's The Mummy' Walks To \$13M - Saturday Box Office Update ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Super-Mario-Galaxy-Movie-Lee-Cronins-The-Mummy.jpg?w=150)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/box-office-lee-cronins-the-mummy-super-mario-galaxy-movie-1236864337/) - [4 'Outlander' Says Goodbye To Longtime Character In Season 8 ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ols8-807-072524-0058-a-f.jpg?w=150)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/outlander-fergus-death-season-8-1236864883/) - [5 Miranda Lets The Zingers Fly In New 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' Footage At CinemaCon ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Devil-Wears-Prada-2_682c4a.jpg?w=150)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/the-devil-wears-prada-2-new-footage-cinemacon-1236863441/) - [6 Charlize Theron Censures Timothée Chalamet Over "Reckless" Comments; Says AI May Soon "Be Able To Do" His Job But Will Not Replace Ballet & Opera ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/charlize-chalamet.jpg?w=150)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/charlize-theron-timothee-chalamet-ballet-opera-ai-1236865017/) - [7 Elle Fanning Is "Really Proud" Of How Nudity Is Used In 'Margo's Got Money Troubles': "Never The Focal Point" ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Elle-Fanning-Margo.jpg?w=150)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/elle-fanning-proud-nudity-margos-got-money-troubles-1236864814/) - [8 Aubrey Plaza On "Really Weird" Experience Pitching 'Kevin' Animated Series With Ex-Boyfriend About Their Cat: "Like An Acid Trip For Me" ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2271059586.jpg?w=150)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/aubrey-plaza-pitching-kevin-with-ex-about-their-cat-1236864956/) - [9 Christopher Meloni Thanks 'L\&O' Fans For The "Great Ride" While Mariska Hargitay Pledges "P4L" To Longtime Co-Star ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/svu.jpg?w=150)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/christopher-meloni-mariska-hargitay-law-order-1236864308/) - [10 Madonna Joins Sabrina Carpenter For Coachella Weekend 2 Set, Featuring Geena Davis & Shirtless Terry Crews ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sabrina-Carpenter-Terry-Crews-Madonna-Geena-Davis-3-shot.jpg?w=150)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/madonna-joins-sabrina-carpenter-coachella-weekend-2-1236864925/) [Deadline](https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/) Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters By providing your information, you agree to our [Terms of Use](https://pmc.com/terms-of-use) and our [Privacy Policy](https://pmc.com/privacy-policy). We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. ### [Latest TV News](https://deadline.com/v/tv/) - [Octavia Spencer On Docuseries 'Lost Women Of Alaska': "There Are So Many Voices That Need To Be Restored" - Contenders TV Documentary ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lost-Women-Of-Alaska-Contenders-Documentary.jpg?w=200&h=112&crop=1)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/octavia-spencer-lost-women-of-alaska-interview-1236865024/) - ['Mr. Scorsese' Director Rebecca Miller Got Martin Scorsese To Open Up, Then Covid Gave Him Time - Contenders TV Documentary ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Mr-Scorsese-Contenders-Documentary.jpg?w=200&h=112&crop=1)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/mr-scorsese-documentary-director-interview-1236865021/) - [‘John Candy: I Like Me’ Director Colin Hanks Says Of Iconic Actor's Style: “There’s A Little Bit Of John In Every Performance” - Contenders TV Documentary ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/John-Candy-I-Like-Me-Contenders-Documentary.jpg?w=200&h=112&crop=1)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/john-candy-i-like-me-director-colin-hanks-interview-1236864978/) - ['Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery' Director Looks Back On Groundbreaking '90s Fest & Think Time Is Right For its Comeback ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lilith-Fair-Building-A-Mystery-Contenders-Documentary.jpg?w=200&h=112&crop=1)](https://deadline.com/2026/04/lilith-fair-building-a-mystery-director-interview-1236864995/) ### Marketplace ## Newswire ### Deadline - [About Us](https://deadline.com/about-dhd/) - [Advertise](https://deadline.com/advertise) ### Legal - [Terms of Use](https://pmc.com/terms-of-use/) - [Privacy Policy](https://pmc.com/privacy-policy/) - [Accessibility](https://deadline.com/accessibility/) - [AdChoices](http://optout.aboutads.info/) - [California Privacy Rights](https://pmc.com/privacy-policy/#california) - [Your Privacy Choices](https://pmc.com/opt-out) - [EU Privacy Preferences](https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/) ### Sitemap - [TV](https://deadline.com/v/tv/) - [Film](https://deadline.com/v/film/) - [Awards](https://deadline.com/v/awards/) - [Box Office](https://deadline.com/v/box-office/) - [Business](https://deadline.com/v/business/) - [International](https://deadline.com/v/international/) ### Connect with Us Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks ### Have a Tip? We want to hear from you! Send us a tip using our annonymous form. [Send Us a Tip](https://deadline.com/tip-line/) ### Stay in the Know Sign up for our breaking news alerts By providing your information, you agree to our [Terms of Use](https://pmc.com/terms-of-use) and our [Privacy Policy](https://pmc.com/privacy-policy). We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. PMC Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Powered by [WordPress.com VIP](https://vip.wordpress.com/?utm_source=vip_powered_wpcom&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=VIP%20Footer%20Credit) Our Sites - [Art in America](https://www.artnews.com/c/art-in-america/) - [Artforum](https://www.artforum.com/) - [ARTnews](https://www.artnews.com/) - [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/) - [BlogHer](https://www.blogher.com/) - [Deadline](https://deadline.com/) - [Flow Space](https://www.theflowspace.com/) - [Footwear News](https://footwearnews.com/) - [Gold Derby](https://www.goldderby.com/) - [IndieWire](https://www.indiewire.com/) - [Robb Report](https://robbreport.com/) - [Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/) - [SheKnows](https://www.sheknows.com/) - [Soaps](https://soaps.sheknows.com/) - [Sourcing Journal](https://sourcingjournal.com/) - [Sportico](https://www.sportico.com/) - [StyleCaster](https://stylecaster.com/) - [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/) - [Variety](https://variety.com/) - [Vibe](https://www.vibe.com/) - [WWD](https://wwd.com/) ### Our Sites - [Art in America](https://www.artnews.com/c/art-in-america/) - [Artforum](https://www.artforum.com/) - [ARTnews](https://www.artnews.com/) - [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/) - [BlogHer](https://www.blogher.com/) - [Deadline](https://deadline.com/) - [Flow Space](https://www.theflowspace.com/) - [Footwear News](https://footwearnews.com/) - [Gold Derby](https://www.goldderby.com/) - [IndieWire](https://www.indiewire.com/) - [Robb Report](https://robbreport.com/) - [Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/) - [SheKnows](https://www.sheknows.com/) - [Soaps](https://soaps.sheknows.com/) - [Sourcing Journal](https://sourcingjournal.com/) - [Sportico](https://www.sportico.com/) - [StyleCaster](https://stylecaster.com/) - [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/) - [Variety](https://variety.com/) - [Vibe](https://www.vibe.com/) - [WWD](https://wwd.com/) ## Site Close the menu - ### [Account](https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/) Expand the sub-menu - [Manage Account](https://deadline.com/my-account/) - [Log Out](https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/) - ### [TV](https://deadline.com/v/tv/) Expand the sub-menu - [Castings](https://deadline.com/category/casting/) - [Ratings](https://deadline.com/category/ratings/) - [Late-Night](https://deadline.com/category/late-night-tv/) - [Primetime Pilot Panic](https://deadline.com/category/primetime-pilot-panic/) - ### [Film](https://deadline.com/v/film/) Expand the sub-menu - [Festivals](https://deadline.com/p/film-festival-news/) - [Reviews](https://deadline.com/category/reviews/) - [Castings](https://deadline.com/category/casting/) - [Acquisitions](https://deadline.com/category/acquisitions/) - [Documentary](https://deadline.com/category/documentary/) - ### [Awards](https://deadline.com/p/awards-season/) Expand the sub-menu - [Awards Hub](https://deadline.com/p/awards-season/) - [Emmys](https://deadline.com/tag/emmys/) - [Oscars](https://deadline.com/tag/oscars/) - [Tonys](https://deadline.com/tag/tony-awards/) - ### [Box Office](https://deadline.com/v/box-office/) Expand the sub-menu - [International B.O.](https://deadline.com/tag/international-box-office/) - [Specialty B.O.](https://deadline.com/tag/specialty-box-office/) - [Broadway B.O.](https://deadline.com/tag/broadway-box-office/) - ### [Business](https://deadline.com/v/business/) Expand the sub-menu - [Politics](https://deadline.com/h/political-news/) - [Legal](https://deadline.com/category/legal/) - [Executives](https://deadline.com/category/executives/) - [Agencies](https://deadline.com/category/agencies/) - ### [International](https://deadline.com/v/international/) Expand the sub-menu - [Festivals](https://deadline.com/p/film-festival-news/) - [Film](https://deadline.com/v/film/) - [TV](https://deadline.com/v/tv/) - [International Insider](https://deadline.com/tag/deadline-international-insider/) - ### [Video](https://deadline.com/v/video/) Expand the sub-menu - [The Actor's Side](https://deadline.com/tag/the-actors-side/) - [Behind The Lens](https://deadline.com/tag/behind-the-lens/) - [Take Ten](https://deadline.com/vcategory/take-ten/) - [Comedy Means Business Podcast](https://deadline.com/tag/comedy-means-business-podcast/) - [The Process](https://deadline.com/vcategory/the-process/) - ### [More](https://deadline.com/) Expand the sub-menu - [Obituaries](https://deadline.com/category/obituaries/) - [Theater](https://deadline.com/v/theater/) - [Music](https://deadline.com/v/music/) - [Podcasts](https://deadline.com/category/podcast/) - [Insider](https://insider.deadline.com/) ### Follow Us ### Alerts & Newsletters By providing your information, you agree to our [Terms of Use](https://pmc.com/terms-of-use) and our [Privacy Policy](https://pmc.com/privacy-policy). We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. - [Advertise](https://deadline.com/advertising-deadline-hollywood/) - [About Us](https://deadline.com/about-dhd/) - [Give us feedback](https://deadline.com/contact-us/) - [Leave us a tip](https://deadline.com/tip-line/) Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ad ![Quantcast](https://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel?a.1=p-0f0nSqEQ_DwA6&a.2=p-31f3D02tYU8zY)

Readable Markdown

[Skip to main content](https://deadline.com/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/#pagetop) ## Donald Trump Tested Positive For Covid Before First Presidential Debate, Former Chief Of Staff Reveals In New Book ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ted-Johnson.jpg?w=193&h=193&crop=1) ![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AP20307847462786.jpg?w=681&h=383&crop=1) (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) **UPDATE, with Joe Biden and Anthony Fauci comments:** [Donald Trump](https://deadline.com/tag/donald-trump/) tested positive for [Covid](https://deadline.com/tag/covid/)\-19 three days before the first presidential debate with Joe Biden last year, Trump’s former chief of staff [Mark Meadows](https://deadline.com/tag/mark-meadows/) reveals in [a new book](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/01/trump-tested-positive-covid-before-biden-debate-chief-staff-mark-meadows-book) obtained by The Guardian. The Commission on Presidential Debates required that candidates test negative within 72 hours of the start time, but Meadows wrote that Trump was determined to not let the test stop him, according to the report. The first presidential debate was on Sept. 29, 2020. Two days later, Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive, and the president was hospitalized on Oct. 2. But the White House at the time was opaque about the full extent of Trump’s testing results. Trump issued a statement on Wednesday in which he said, “The story of me having COVID prior to, or during, the first debate is Fake News. In fact, a test revealed that I did not have COVID prior to the debate.” Meadows’ memoir is due to be published next week. According to The Guardian, Meadows wrote that Trump did get a negative result from a different test after the positive result. But the positive result did create a stir, Meadows wrote. He said that the White House doctor informed him of the president’s positive test result on Sept. 26, but Trump had just taken off on Marine One for a campaign rally. Meadows wrote that he called Trump and told him, “I’ve got some bad news. You’ve tested positive for Covid-19.” Trump’s reply, Meadows wrote, “rhyme\[d\] with ‘Oh spit, you’ve gotta be trucking lidding me’.” Trump’s test results were not publicly disclosed before the debate. On the day of the event, Meadows wrote, according to The Guardian, “His face, for the most part at least, had regained its usual light bronze hue, and the gravel in his voice was gone. But the dark circles under his eyes had deepened. As we walked into the venue around five o’clock in the evening, I could tell that he was moving more slowly than usual. He walked like he was carrying a little extra weight on his back.” Trump’s positive test came after a Sept. 26 White House event to introduce Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee for the Supreme Court. A number of attendees to that event ended up testing positive for Covid. Biden was asked by a reporter on Wednesday about the report and Trump potentially putting him at risk during the debate. “I don’t think about the former president,” Biden said. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser to the president, was also a member of Trump’s coronavirus task force. He told reporters on Wednesday, “I certainly was not aware of his test positivity or negativity.” He said that “if you test positive you should be quarantining yourself.” ## Subscribe to Deadline Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy. [Sign Up](https://cloud.email.deadline.com/signup) ## Newswire ## Site

ML Classification

ML Categories

/News		89.2%
/News/Politics		83.8%
/News/Politics/Campaigns_and_Elections		74.1%
/People_and_Society		18.1%

Raw JSON

{
    "/News": 892,
    "/News/Politics": 838,
    "/News/Politics/Campaigns_and_Elections": 741,
    "/People_and_Society": 181
}

ML Page Types

/Article		99.9%
/Article/News_Update		99.7%

Raw JSON

{
    "/Article": 999,
    "/Article/News_Update": 997
}

ML Intent Types

Informational

99.8%

Raw JSON

{
    "Informational": 998
}

Content Metadata

Language

en-us

Author

Ted Johnson

Publish Time

2021-12-01 15:56:42 (4 years ago)

Original Publish Time

2021-12-01 15:56:42 (4 years ago)

Republished

Word Count (Total)

2,150

Word Count (Content)

525

Links

External Links

Internal Links

107

Technical SEO

Meta Nofollow

Meta Noarchive

JS Rendered

Yes

Redirect Target

null

Performance

Download Time (ms)

909

TTFB (ms)

886

Download Size (bytes)

103,228

Shard

53 (laksa)

Root Hash

14146668165935413053

Unparsed URL

com,deadline!/2021/12/donald-trump-tested-positive-covid-before-debate-1234882779/ s443