Donald Trump 'feeling great' and 'looking forward to debate next week'

6 October 2020, 16:14 | Updated: 6 October 2020, 16:27

Donald Trump has said that he is "feeling great" and "looking forward" to debating Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden next Thursday.

The president wrote on twitter "I am looking forward to the debate on the evening of Thursday, October 15th in Miami. It will be great!"

One minute prior to this, he tweeted, "FEELING GREAT!"

Trump is currently being treated for coronavirus, and returned to the White House on Monday evening after a stint in hospital, despite medics saying he is still infectious.

Read more: Donald Trump 'breathing heavily' as Biden leads backlash against 'macho' Covid-19 stance

Read more: James O'Brien's reaction to 'heartbreaking' footage of Trump struggling to breathe

The tweet means that the president is likely to take part in the second presidential debate on 15 October, despite this falling within a typical Covid patient’s 14-day quarantine window.

However, Joe Biden has said he will only go on with the debate in Miami if scientists assure him it can be done with no risk that the president would infect him or his team or workers there.

Mr Biden has also criticised Donald Trump, accusing him of an irresponsible "macho" stance as he fights back to health.

He said: "What is this macho thing, 'I'm not going to wear a mask?

"What's the deal here? Big deal, does it hurt you? Be patriotic for god's sake! Take care of yourself, but take care of your neighbours."

He said that "anybody who contracts the virus by essentially saying, 'masks don't matter, social distancing doesn't matter,' I think is responsible for what happens to them."

Mr Trump has also faced criticism after he released a "tone deaf" video saying that he believed he was immune to the virus and that people need not fear contracting Covid-19.

Trump seen breathing heavily on White House balcony

The President, who was admitted to Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday, left the facility at 6.30pm local time yesterday.

Doctors said he met the standard to be discharged from hospital but is still contagious.

A masked Mr Trump pumped his fist as he walked out of Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre on Monday evening towards a waiting SUV that carried him to the Marine One helicopter for the short flight back to the White House.

Announcing his departure earlier on Monday evening, he told followers "don't be afraid of Covid" and claimed to feel "better than I did 20 years ago."

In a tweet, the President wrote: "I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!"

Sean Conley, the president's physician, said he "may not entirely be out of the woods yet" but he and the team "agree that all our evaluations and, most importantly, his clinical status support the president's safe return home, where he'll be surrounded by world class medical care".

t is unclear how long Mr Trump will remain in isolation at the White House. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms should isolate for at least 10 days.

James O'Brien's reaction to 'heartbreaking' footage of Trump

First Lady Melania Trump also tested positive for the virus, but said she was "feeling good" after suffering mild symptoms.

In a statement, she said: "My family is grateful for all of the prayers and support!

"I am feeling good and will continue to rest at home. Thank you to medical staff and caretakers everywhere, and my continued prayers for those who are ill or have a family member impacted by the virus."

Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany become the latest White House aide to test positive for the virus on Monday.

Joe Biden's campaign said the Democratic presidential nominee again tested negative for coronavirus on Sunday. The results came five days after he spent more than 90 minutes on the debate stage with Mr Trump.

Mr Biden, who has taken a far more cautious approach to in-person events - and has been mocked repeatedly for it by Mr Trump - had two negative tests on Friday.