Donald Trump
US Vice President Mike Pence will have to take over as head of state if Donald Trump, infected with the coronavirus, cannot work. The order of action in the event of a serious illness of the American leader is named in an article in The Telegraph.
According to the attending physician of the presidential family, Sean Conley, Trump and his wife Melania are currently in good condition and receiving treatment. The head of the United States himself stated that he was continuing to work. However, given the fact that the president will soon be placed in a medical facility and will need to be in quarantine, Trump is already losing the opportunity to fulfill some of his obligations.
They will go to Vice President Mike Pence. In the same case, if the president becomes seriously ill and is declared temporarily incapacitated, Pence will have to assume full presidential powers. The authors note that this is a fairly likely outcome: the 74-year-old head of the American state weighs more than 110 kilograms. This means that he is at risk of complications from COVID-19 in two ways at once.
To return to business, the president will need to notify Congress in writing. Both houses of parliament will vote further: unless more than two-thirds of those in the Senate and House of Representatives support his return, the vice president will act as US leader until the next election on November 3.
In the event that Pence also falls ill, the powers of the president will be transferred to the speaker of the House of Representatives – now this post is held by Nancy Pelosi. If events develop in this way, the US Democratic Party will gain control of the White House even before the presidential election.
Earlier, attending physician Sean Conley said that doctors assess the president's condition with cautious optimism. According to him, it is too early to say that the worst is over. The American leader took the second dose of the experimental drug remdesivir.
Trump reported a positive coronavirus test on October 2. He added that his wife Melania was also diagnosed with the disease. The President promised to immediately begin treatment and quarantine.
