Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of a scheduled appearance with President Donald Trump in the state.
Dewine tweeted on Thursday morning, “As part of the standard protocol to greet President Trump on the tarmac in Cleveland, I took a COVID test. I tested positive. I have no symptoms at this time. I’m following protocol and will quarantine at home for the next 14 days.”
As part of the standard protocol to greet President Trump on the tarmac in Cleveland, I took a COVID test. I tested positive. I have no symptoms at this time. I’m following protocol and will quarantine at home for the next 14 days.
— Mike DeWine (@MikeDeWine) August 6, 2020
Trump and DeWine were set to tour the Whirlpool factory in Clyde, Ohio, before going to a private fundraising event. Lt. Governor Jon Husted also received a COVID test, but his came back negative, according to Cincinnati.com.
DeWine is the second prominent Republican in recent weeks who has tested positive ahead of a planned meeting with Trump. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) tested positive for coronavirus in late July. He was supposed to fly to Texas with Trump. Like DeWine, Gohmert said that he was asymptomatic.
But DeWine’s absence did not seem to change Trump’s plans much as he posted a video of Marine Force One with the caption, “Just departed for the Great State of Ohio!”
Just departed for the Great State of Ohio! pic.twitter.com/vAg0tdRFP8
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2020
Ohio will be an important state for Trump in his re-election fight. In 2016, he defeated Hillary Clinton in the state. Recent polling has Joe Biden up by a razor-thin margin in Ohio, as of August 5, according to FiveThirtyEight.