On seven occasions this week AlertsUSA subscribers were notified via SMS messages to their mobile devices regarding safety and security matters.
Most important for this report, late Thursday night, AlertsUSA subscribers were some of the first in the nation to learn that President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. President Trump sent a message via Twitter announcing the test result, stating, "We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!"
Earlier in the day, the White House announced that presidential adviser Hope Hicks had tested positive for the virus after she traveled with the President on Air Force One earlier in the week. Hicks is the closest aide to Trump to test positive and was with the President in Cleveland for the debate this past Tuesday, as well as a campaign stop in Duluth, MN on Wednesday. Staffers who are in close contact with the president are tested daily, indicating Hicks likely received her positive test on Thursday.
On Friday afternoon, AlertsUSA subscribers were informed that President Trump was being transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. The White House says that the visit is precautionary and that Trump reportedly will work from the hospital’s presidential suite, which is equipped to allow him to continue his official duties.
As of the time of this report's preparation late Friday, White House officials state there has been no transfer of power from the President to the Vice President, as provided for under the 25th Amendment to the Constitution.
Also late Thursday, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified that US military forces worldwide are on heightened alert following the announcement of the President testing positive for the coronavirus, as well to anticipate increased security and possible delays at the U.S. government facilities.
While the nation is safe and continues to function as normal, we should expect that our adversaries may attempt to exploit this situation with propaganda, proclamations of a weak national response to the pandemic, efforts to inflame ongoing civil unrest, disrupt or otherwise impact voting in the election, as well as possible probing actions to determine the nation's level of military readiness.
In one simple example of propaganda efforts, note the following Twitter message (since deleted but recovered from Archive.Today) from Hu Xijin, Editor of the Global Times, a state-owned Chinese tabloid, capitalizing on the president's diagnosis and attempting to spread fear.
Readers are reminded that protests and civil unrest continue in cities across the U.S.. With upcoming hearings scheduled for President Trump's nominee to replace the late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and all that is on the line with the near certain confirmation of another conservative justice to the court, it is expected that protests and counter protests will be widespread.
AlertsUSA strongly encourages readers to maintain a high level of situational awareness when out and about in the coming days. It behooves you to monitor local news and learn about any planned demonstrations in your area.
AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment around the clock and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages to their mobile devices, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.
