The mystery surrounding the President Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis and condition deepened Saturday after several rounds of confusing and contradictory information from the White House and the president's medical staff.
Amid the swirl of developments, sources told ABC News that Trump, who remains hospitalized, had been given supplemental oxygen and experienced shortness of breath, a potentially worrisome picture that appeared to contradict both the rosier statements from Trump's doctor and assessments that he was doing well both on Twitter and elsewhere.
Speaking outside Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Saturday, Trump's physician would not offer a clear, declarative statement about whether the president had received oxygen treatment since testing positive.
The press pool was told soon after by a "source familiar with the president's health" that Trump's "vitals over last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care."
The lack of transparency and clarity from the White House contributed to a troubling pattern surrounding the events of the last week, including learning of Hope Hicks' diagnosis by a media leak, as the U.S. faces a potential crisis of governance just a month before the election.
Numerous questions remained including how many people at the highest levels of government had been exposed after a week of events involving the president where social distancing and mask-wearing were lax and the integrity of the testing efforts at the White House and elsewhere.
Since Trump announced he had coronavirus, Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Thom Tillis, Sen. Ron Johnson, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway have announced they tested positive for COVID-19.
Here is how the news is developed on Saturday. All times Eastern.
Oct 03, 2020, 2:12 PM EDT
Trump was on oxygen on Friday, sources say
Sources close to Trump tell ABC News the president was having trouble breathing and received supplemental oxygen on Friday at the White House after his oxygen levels dropped. This in part prompted the president to be transferred to Walter Reed Hospital late Friday afternoon.
President Donald Trump walks to Marine One prior to departure from the South Lawn of the White House, Oct. 2, 2020, as he heads to Walter Reed Military Medical Center, after testing positive for COVID-19.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump walks to Marine One prior to departure from the South Lawn of the White House, Oct. 2, 2020, as he heads to Walter Reed Military Medical Center, after testing positive for COVID-19.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
In addition, following that health assessment provided by doctors at Walter Reed, a senior administration official told ABC News that "according to [the president's physician] Dr. [Sean] Conley, the next 48 hours are critical for monitoring of potential illness progression." This official added that some of the president’s vitals Friday morning were "concerning."
The pool was told by a "source familiar with the president's health" that Trump's "vitals over last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We are still not on a clear path to a full recovery."
As of Saturday morning, the president's medical team said in their briefing he is not currently on supplemental oxygen.
At one point, the president's doctor said, "yesterday and today he was not on oxygen" but in another answer later he said, "Thursday, no oxygen. None at this moment. And yesterday with the team, while we were all here, he was not on oxygen."
Asked whether Trump has experienced difficulty breathing, Conley said, "No. No, he has not. Never did."
ABC News' Katherine Faulders and John Santucci contributed to this report.
Oct 03, 2020, 12:49 PM EDT
Trump doing 'very well,' no longer has fever, doctor says
Trump "is doing very well" Saturday morning, Dr. Sean Conley, physician to the president, said from Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Trump is in “exceptionally good spirits” and is not having difficulty breathing or walking around, Conley said.
Dr. Sean Conley, physician to President Donald Trump, briefs reporters at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Oct. 3, 2020. Trump was admitted to the hospital after contracting the coronavirus.
Susan Walsh/AP
"He did have a fever Thursday into Friday and since Friday he's had nothing," Conley said, though he would not say how high Trump's fever was.
"The president's been fever-free for over 24 hours. We remain cautiously optimistic, but he's doing great," he added.
"We have monitored his cardiac function, his kidney function, his liver function, all of those are normal," Conley said.
Trump will be treated with a five-day course of Remdesivir.
"Thursday he had a mild cough with some nasal congestion and fatigue all of which are now resolving and improving," Conley said. "The team and I are extremely happy with the progress the president has made."
President Donald Trump disembarks from the Marine One helicopter followed by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows as he arrives at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after testing positive for COVID-19, in Bethesda, Md., Oct. 2, 2020.
Joshua Roberts/Reuters
Pressed on whether the president had been treated with supplemental oxygen at any point since his diagnosis, Conley wouldn’t provide a clear, declarative answer.
“And you said he's not received any supplemental oxygen?” a reporter asked.
“He's not on oxygen right now, that's right," Conley said.
Dr. Sean Conley, physician to President Donald Trump, briefs reporters at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Oct. 3, 2020. Trump was admitted to the hospital after contracting the coronavirus.
Susan Walsh/AP
When the reporter followed up on whether he had at any point, Conley replied, “He’s not needed any this morning, today, at all.”
At one point, Conley said, "yesterday and today he was not on oxygen." In another answer later he said, "Thursday, no oxygen. None at this moment. And yesterday with the team while we were all here, he was not on oxygen." He did not address whether Trump had received oxygen while his team was not on site.
Asked whether Trump has experienced difficult breathing, Conley said, "No. No, he has not. Never did."
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is seen shortly after the White House announced that President Donald Trump will be travelling to the hospital and "will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days" after testing positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Bethesda, Md., Oct. 2, 2020.
Joshua Roberts/Reuters
Reporters questioned when Trump last had a positive test, but Conley would not answer.
Conley also raised questions about the timeline by saying the president was "72 hours into the diagnosis," though Trump's diagnosis was announced to the public about 36 hours ago. Conley then in a memo sent by the White House said he "incorrectly used the term 'seventy two hours' instead of day three' and 'forty eight hours' instead of 'day two.'" Conley confirmed that Trump was diagnosed Thursday night.
Conley did not say when Trump would be discharged. "I don't want to put a hard date on that," Conley said.
This was Conley’s first on-camera briefing on the president’s condition.
ABC News' Elizabeth Thomas contributed to this report.
Oct 03, 2020, 11:50 AM EDT
Chris Christie tests positive
Former New Jersey governor and ABC News contributor Chris Christie, who helped Trump prep for Tuesday’s debate from the White House on Monday, tweeted Saturday morning, “I just received word that I am positive for COVID-19.”
“I will be receiving medical attention today and will keep the necessary folks apprised of my condition,” he wrote.
Christie is one of eight people who have tested positive after attending last weekend's event in the White House Rose Garden where Trump officially nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Oct 03, 2020, 11:02 AM EDT
Trump rested through evening after experiencing shortness of breath
While the president had experienced a shortness of breath after testing positive for the virus, Saturday morning he is not having difficulty breathing, sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News.
Trump went to Walter Reed Medical Center after experiencing a low-grade fever, chills, nasal congestion and cough. The president still has those symptoms on Saturday, multiple sources said.
Trump rested well through the night as doctors continue to monitor and evaluate him through the weekend to determine when he can return to the White House, sources told ABC News. As of Saturday morning, the president was still feeling fatigued but was signing papers and working, the sources said.
The president is still not considering any transition of power to Vice President Mike Pence. However, the president is worried, as coming down with the virus has spooked him and top aides, sources said.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who stayed at Walter Reed with the president overnight, tested negative for COVID-19 again Saturday morning.
ABC News' Katherine Faulders and John Santucci contributed to this report.
