Mike Pence may also have been exposed to COVID-19 – and people are dreaming of Nancy Pelosi as acting president
US Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
As news that US president Donald Trump has contracted coronavirus shudders through the world, a realisation dawns – vice president Mike Pence may also have the disease.
According to CNN, the virus may have winnowed throughout the White House complex, putting not only the future of his leadership, but the lives of Trump’s top officials into uncertainty.
Pence, 61, was not in close contact with Trump’s trusted adviser Hope Kicks, who tested positive only hours before, but was in the Oval Office with Trump himself Tuesday (29 September).
“So, my question,” said the broadcaster’s Don Lemmon, “is the vice president is possibly exposed, at this point.
“And I’m sure people are wondering if Pence is going to be ready to do a debate with Kamala Harris on Wednesday (7 October) if the current vice president has possibly been exposed to COVID. If he met with the president on Tuesday.”
Twitter vies for Nancy Pelosi to become acting president if both Donald Trump and Mike Pence test positive.
Considering that the dramatic disclosure that Trump tested positive for a deadly disease that has killed some 207,000 Americans and one he has strenuously downplayed for months came on Twitter, users quickly grappled with what this could mean for the future of the US.
For the most part, alongside well wishes directed at the president, many users were beginning to imagine what would happen if speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi became acting president.
Pelosi, 80, is third in the country’s well-established line of succession if the president is ever unable to fulfil their duties. Such a contingency plan has soothed many officials’ worries, but over on Twitter, well, people like to dream.
I have three words for you;
President Nancy Pelosi
— Chip Franklin (@chipfranklin) October 2, 2020
Nancy Pelosi when they tell her Trump is positive and Pence might get it too pic.twitter.com/mNv2QiRREX— jonathan (@jaysquivel) October 2, 2020
Protect Nancy Pelosi at all costs.— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) October 2, 2020
If Trump and Pence both got sick and Nancy Pelosi had to become acting President, couldn't she fire AG Barr, move the Supreme Court selection procedure until after the election? I know it's far fetched. It was fun to type though.— JeremyNewberger (@jeremynewberger) October 2, 2020
A President Nancy Pelosi is still a very high possibility. Just sayin.
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) October 2, 2020
The California Congress member has long been an LGBT+ ally as well as one of Trump’s most barbed critics.
Donald Trump tests positive for coronavirus. He tweeted about it, of course.
Trump, 74, is certainly not the first world leader to become sickened by COVID-19, following the likes of prime minister Boris Johnson of Britain and president Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil.
But out of three, Trump, older and overweight, is at a higher risk. He said on Twitter that he and first lady Melania Trump will both quarantine for an unspecified slot of time.
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
Trump’s doctor, Sean Conley, said on Twitter that he expected Trump is “fine” and will “continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering”.
