No discussion has taken place within the Trump administration about transferring power to vice-president Mike Pence, according to US national security adviser Robert O’Brien, following Donald Trump’s hospitalisation for coronavirus. Speaking on Sunday, Mr O’Brien – who himself tested positive for Covid-19 in July – said a transfer of power had not been discussed, but that the administration was “prepared”. Trump re-election official Jason Miller criticised Mr Trump’s Democratic rival Joe Biden’s policy towards mask wearing. She declined to specify when exactly Mr Trump was tested and received a positive result on Thursday. According to an Ipsos-ABC poll on Sunday, 72 per cent of Americans believe Mr Trump did not take seriously enough the risk of contracting the virus, nor has he taken appropriate precautions.

Source: The Irish Times October 04, 2020 19:07 UTC