![FILE - This Sept. 18, 2019, file photo shows the view of the U.S. Capitol building from the Washington Monument in Washington. The federal government incurred the biggest monthly budget deficit in history in June 2020 as spending on programs to combat the coronavirus recession exploded while millions of job losses cut into tax revenues. The Treasury Department reported Monday, July 13, 2020 that the deficit hit $864 billion last month, an amount of red ink that surpasses most annual deficits in the nation’s history and is above the previous monthly deficit record of $738 billion in April.(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) [Jul-13-2020]](https://img.ksl.com/slc/2788/278846/27884654.jpg?filter=kslv2/responsive_top_sm&v=1601657300)
Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Members of Utah’s congressional delegation wished President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump a quick recovery from COVID-19 while also highlighting the seriousness of the disease.
“The president and first lady contracting COVID-19 further validates how serious this is and how we all need to take precaution,” said Republican Rep. John Curtis. “I extend my best wishes for a speedy recovery to both of them.”
GOP Sen. Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, wished Trump and his wife a “swift and complete recovery. Our prayers are with them and all the others who have been afflicted with illness.”
Trump tweeted early Friday that he and the first lady had tested positive for coronavirus. The positive test came hours after the White House announced that senior aide Hope Hicks came down with the virus after traveling with the president several times this week.
Rep. Ben McAdams, Utah’s only Democrat in Congress, was hospitalized after becoming severely ill with COVID-19 earlier this year.
Julie and I are keeping the President and First Lady in our thoughts and praying for their speedy recovery. As someone who has had this virus, I know how terrible it can be. I continue to urge everyone to follow public health guidelines so we can reduce the spread. #utpol
— Rep. Ben McAdams (@RepBenMcAdams) October 2, 2020
He said he and his wife, Julie, are keeping the Trumps in their thoughts and praying for their speedy recovery.
“As someone who has had the virus, I know how terrible it can be,” McAdams said. “I continue to urge everyone to follow the public health guidelines so we can reduce the spread.
Romney and Republican Sen. Mike Lee both isolated for two weeks after being in close contact with another senator who contracted the virus.
“God bless President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS. Praying for their quick & full recovery,” GOP Rep. Chris Stewart tweeted.
God bless President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS. Praying for their quick & full recovery. https://t.co/IQ2mQMSYYz
— Rep. Chris Stewart (@RepChrisStewart) October 2, 2020
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert also expressed his thoughts to the president on Twitter saying, “Sorry to hear about your having tested positive for COVID-19. Best wishes on a speedy recovery!”
Former Democratic state Sen. Scott Howell, a Utah surrogate for former Joe Biden’s presidential election campaign, said they are praying for a safe recovery for the Trumps.
“Since the start of COVD-19, the campaign’s top priority has been the health of voters across the country. The Biden campaign has been working closely with public health experts to determine the best practices to campaign safely. They will continue to campaign with public health as our top priority,” he said.
Howell said the Bidens and their traveling staff have been regularly tested and committed to making a positive test result public. After Tuesday’s debate, the campaign is taking extra precautions to make sure Biden and his wife, Jill, are safe, he said.
