Trump's Return to the White House Turns West Wing Into 'Ghost Town'

By M.G. Alison. First Posted: Oct 06, 2020 04:02 AM EDT

President Donald Trump returned to the White House on Monday and turned the West Wing into a "ghost town" after three days of being treated at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for COVID-19.

Trump will continue his recovery at the White House with his team of doctors led by Navy Cmdr. Sean Conley, saying that the president is improving but not "out of the woods" yet.

An official who requested anonymity as he has no clearance to talk about the internal dynamics of the White House told The Washington Post that even before Trump returned, several officials have already cleared out after several lawmakers, visitors, aides and residence staffers have tested positive of COVID-19.

Offices at the White House that are almost empty of people are the ones used by the National Economic Council and the press staff. Even the hallways are empty.

Since Trump's announcement early on Friday morning that he and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19, a number of White House officials as well as others who have had close contact with the president have been diagnosed to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The latest, who announced on Monday that she has COVID-19, was press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Others who got infected before her were presidential aide Hope Hicks, former adviser Kellyanne Conway, campaign adviser Chris Christie, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, campaign manager Bill Stepien and personal assistant Nicholas Luna.

During a press briefing, Conley said that they have been working with their infectious-disease experts and made recommendations on how to keep everything safe at the White House.

The physician, however, did not go into details what specific steps are being taken to make sure that the White House is safe while Trump is still in recovery, making him still contagious.

The White House serves both as the residence of the president and as a government office.

Two senators have also tested positive for COVID-19. Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Notre Dame president John Jenkins also tested positive for the virus.

They have all attended the White House Rosa Garden ceremony on September 26 wherein Trump had confirmed his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

The president will be working at the Diplomatic Reception Room and the Map Room of the White House. Both have been prepared to serve as Trump's working spaces.

According to the aides, the president likes the Map Room which is close to the White House medical offices, and often goes there when he is preparing for major speeches. He also often holds tele-town-hall events there.

Many of the White House's staff members have also opted to work from home in the days to come.

Chief of staff Mark Meadows had called senior staffers on Monday morning to advise that Trump would likely return later in the day. He encouraged them to work remotely and suggested for some meetings to be held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building as there is more space there.

Trump was reportedly upset with Meadows after he contradicted the medical briefings given by Conley.