President arrives at White House, removes mask and salutes

In a tweet announcing the move, Trump wrote, "Don't be afraid of Covid."

ByJon Haworth, Matt Zarrell, Lauren King, Libby Cathey, and Michelle Stoddart
Last Updated: October 6, 2020, 8:27 AM EDT

President Donald Trump's condition is continuing to improve as he fights a coronavirus infection, doctors said, and he left Walter Reed Medical Center on Monday evening, landing at the White House shortly before 7 p.m.

Doctors also reported that Trump, over the course of exhibiting coronavirus symptoms, had earlier experienced two episodes of "transient drops" in his oxygen saturation.

Yet the president was feeling well enough Sunday evening to briefly leave Walter Reed for a surprise drive-by, waving to supporters outside the hospital.

Administration member Judd Deere subsequently put out a statement saying that, "President Trump took a short, last-minute motorcade ride to wave to his supporters outside and has now returned to the Presidential Suite inside Walter Reed."

Meanwhile, numerous questions remain about how many people at the highest levels of government had been exposed to the virus after a week of events involving the president where social distancing and mask-wearing were lax in the White House and elsewhere.

Monday's headlines:

Here is how the news developed on Monday. All times Eastern.
Oct 05, 2020, 1:02 PM EDT

2 others in White House press office also test positive

In addition to White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany testing positive for the coronavirus, two other staff members in the press office have also come back positive.

Chad Gilmartin and assistant press secretary Karoline Leavitt have both tested positive, sources told ABC News. Gilmartin's positive test came back over the weekend, sources said.

The White House is lit before dawn after President Donald Trump announced that he and first lady Melania Trump have both tested positive for COVID-19 in Washington, D.C., Oct. 2, 2020.
Joshua Roberts/Reuters

Leavitt's desk is an an open, small central area in the "Lower Press" section of the White House press office, near the briefing room -- dozens of reporters, White House staffers and others typically pass through that area daily.

Gilmartin and McEnany sit in the "Upper Press" area -- a couple stairs and a ramp from where Leavitt sits.

ABC News' Ben Gittleson and John Santucci

Oct 05, 2020, 12:28 PM EDT

McEnany spoke repeatedly to reporters in recent days without a mask

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who announced she tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday morning, was speaking with reporters Sunday evening-- without a mask on -- following an appearance on FOX News at the White House.

Despite her recent interactions with reporters, McEnany says in a statement that "no reporters, producers, or members of the press are listed as close contacts by the White House Medical Unit."

As McEnany approached reporters Sunday evening, she removed her mask before taking three questions.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, is interviewed by Fox News, Oct. 4, 2020, at the White House in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP

McEnany also held a briefing with reporters indoors on Thursday, prior to the president’s trip to New Jersey -- she was one of four aides pulled from the Bedminster trip because of her exposure to Hope Hicks, who tested positive on Wednesday, but did not strictly quarantine. McEnany said she had tested negative that day.

And on Friday, she also spoke with reporters without wearing a mask -- she wore one as she approached reporters but then took it off before speaking with them.

There is no indication that McEnany has spent any time at Walter Reed since the president was transferred there Friday.

-ABC News' Jordyn Phelps and Ben Gittleson

Oct 05, 2020, 12:12 PM EDT

Trump 'ready to get back to work,' Graham says

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he spoke with President Trump on Monday morning, saying he "sounds terrific," "very engaged" and is "ready to get back to work."

PHOTO: Seventh Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, listens Lindsey Graham (R-SC) answers reporters' questions before a meeting in the Mansfield Room at the Capitol Sept. 29, 2020.
Seventh Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, listens as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) answers reporters' questions before a meeting in the Mansfield Room at the Capitol Sept. 29, 2020.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Graham, who is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee overseeing the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, said Trump is excited about Barrett being confirmed to the high court.

Oct 05, 2020, 11:40 AM EDT

White House press secretary says she's positive for COVID-19

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted on Monday that she has tested positive for the coronavirus.

McEnany said she had consistently tested negative every day since Thursday, but the positive result came back on Monday morning.

She said she is not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms and will begin the quarantine process.

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