Trump's Covid-19 battle was much more serious than the public were led to believe

Donald Trump was so sick with Covid-19 that doctors considered placing him on a ventilator

TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump looks on during a ceremony presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to wrestler Dan Gable in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on December 7, 2020. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
(Image credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump may have brushed off the severity of his battle with Covid-19 last October, but sources have now revealed just how sick the 74-year-old really was. 

According to a New York Times report on Thursday, Trump’s condition deteriorated to the point that doctors considered putting him on a ventilator. 

His oxygen levels were recorded to be in the 80s, which is far lower than the healthy range of 95-100. Oxygen levels lower than 90 can cause a whole host of health issues, including wheezing, coughing, and blue skin. Trump also suffered from lung infiltrates, which is when substances like fluid and bacteria fill the lungs. 

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Trump’s health was so poor that officials were convinced he would need a ventilator before he was transported to Walter Reed Military Medical Center. 

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These grave details into Trump’s Covid-19 experience stand in stark contrast with those of his representatives at the time. Dr. Sean Conley, Trump’s former physician, was notably vague on his patient’s condition with reporters. He evaded the question of whether or not Trump was on supplemental oxygen and emphasized his optimism for the former president’s recovery. 

Another member of Trump’s medical team, Dr. Sean Dooley, told reporters that the former president made the comment, “I feel like I could walk out of here today.” 

Trump returned to the White House on October 5th, three days after he was hospitalized. On October 7th, his physician told the media that Trump had been symptom-free for 24 hours. Trump announced he was no longer contagious the following day, but provided no evidence to support this claim. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise patients recovering from Covid-19 to continue isolation for 10-20 days after their symptoms subside. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.