Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Politics

Melania Trump pulls out of first public appearance since Covid bout due to ‘lingering cough’

Melania Trump is canceling a rare joint appearance with her husband at a campaign rally due to a 'lingering cough' (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

Melania Trump has pulled out of what would have been her first public appearance since recovering from coronavirus , due to a “lingering” cough.

The rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, was also to be the First Lady’s first time out on the campaign trail for more than a year.

Mrs Trump’s announcement served as yet another reminder for her husband President Donald Trump that Covid-19 remains a powerful presence in everyday life, including his.

She continues to feel better every day "but with a lingering cough, and out of an abundance of caution, she will not be travelling today", her chief of staff Stephanie Grisham said.

The First Lady last appeared in public for the September 29 debate in Cleveland between US leader Mr Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

She and the president tested positive two days later.

The first lady announced in a blog post last week that she had recovered from a bout with Covid-19 that included headaches, body aches and fatigue, and had tested negative.

She also revealed that the couple's 14-year-old son Barron had also contracted the virus, but never had symptoms.

He has since tested negative.

President Trump spent three nights at a military hospital outside Washington receiving treatment for his case of the disease .

He was released on October 5 and returned to active campaigning last week.

Tuesday's rally in Pennsylvania was to be the first campaign trail appearance for Mrs Trump since she spoke briefly at a June 2019 event in Orlando, Florida.

She addressed a mostly virtual Republican National Convention in August from the White House Rose Garden.

The first lady had planned to headline Trump campaign fundraisers back in March, but those appearances were cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

She is expected to accompany the president to Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday for his second and final debate against Mr Biden before the November 3 election.

More than 58,000 Americans a day are testing positive for the virus, and more than 700 a day are dying from the disease.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.