- Vice President
Mike Pence and his wife Karen have tested negative for thecoronavirus , his press secretary announced in a tweet. - Pence is first in line to assume power if President
Donald Trump , who tested positive for the virus on Thursday night, were incapacitated. - Pence sent his "love and prayers" to Trump and first lady Melania Trump, who also tested positive for the virus, on Friday morning.
Vice President Mike Pence has tested negative for the coronavirus. He is next in line to assume the presidency if President Donald Trump, who has tested positive for COVID-19, is too sick to fulfill his normal duties.
Pence's press secretary Devin O'Malley tweeted that Pence and his wife Karen's tests had come back negative and the vice president "remains in good health."
—Devin O’Malley (@VPPressSec) October 2, 2020
As Trump's second in command, Pence is in line to take over the presidency if Trump were incapacitated by the virus.
If a sitting president is unable to lead for medical reasons, he can invoke Section 3 of the 25th Amendment to pass power to the vice president. The power can then be restored to the president after he has recovered.
In a Thursday memo, White House physician Sean Conley did not say whether the president is experiencing any symptoms from the virus, but said he is "well" and under Conley's "vigilant watch."
"Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any further developments," Conley said in a memo.
Pence sent his "love and prayers" to Trump and the First Lady in a statement early Friday morning.
"We join millions across America praying for their full and swift recovery," it continued.