Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for coronavirus, President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, making his personal lawyer the latest person among dozens connected to the White House to contract the disease in recent months, as Trump’s inner circle continues to flout CDC health guidelines.
Trump wished Giuliani a speedy recovery in a Twitter post, again referring to Covid-19 as the “China Virus,” a pejorative description that has been criticized as racist. Public health officials avoid naming viruses after countries or regions in order to not stigmatize people from those areas.
Giuliani has led Trump’s legal fight to undo President-elect Joe Biden’s win in the November election, claiming without evidence widespread voter fraud. He traveled to several battleground states in recent days arguing allegations of voter fraud, while failing to produce any evidence in legal cases.
His diagnosis disrupts Trump’s already imperiled efforts to overturn the presidential election. The president vowed that his fight would go on as Giuliani recovers.
Jenna Ellis, senior legal advisor to Trump, said she was praying for Giuliani, who she described as a “tough warrior.” Ellis said their efforts to fight the election results “won’t be affected.”
Giuliani, 76, is in a high-risk group for Covid-19. It’s unclear whether or not he has symptoms. Giuliani’s team did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
Just hours before Trump’s announcement, Giuliani appeared on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” to continue unverified arguments of election fraud. The former New York City mayor was in Atlanta on Thursday to attend a state Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on election security.
Giuliani’s diagnosis comes roughly two weeks after his son Andrew Giuliani, who serves as a special assistant to Trump, also tested positive for the virus.
Giuliani is the latest person in the president’s inner circle to contract Covid-19. At least 52 people connected to the White House have tested positive in recent months, including Trump, the first lady, his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Barron, his chief of staff and several other senior advisors.
Trump’s inner circle regularly flouts CDC social distancing guidelines developed to mitigate the spread of the virus. Several top officials tested positive for coronavirus after attending a crowded celebration of Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court in which people weren’t wearing masks. White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci referred to the ceremony as a “superspreader event.”
The president also held an election night watch party indoors at the White House East Room. Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Ben Carson, secretary for Housing and Urban Development, tested positive after attending the party.
Trump loyalist Corey Lewandowski also tested positive after the party. Lewandowski appeared with Giuliani in Philadelphia outside a landscaping company to raise baseless allegations of voter fraud after the election was called for Biden.
Source: Business - cnbc.com
