President Trump and the first lady tested positive for Covid-19. This comes after Trump’s aide Hope Hicks tested positive for Covid-19. CNBC’s Shepard Smith reports. For access to live and exclusive video from CNBC subscribe to CNBC PRO: https://cnb.cx/2NGeIvi

President Donald Trump announced early Friday he and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus, plunging the United States into further upheaval and uncertainty just over a month away from Election Day.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is next in line for the presidency, and his wife tested negative, the White House announced later Friday.

The White House physician said the president and first lady were “both well” at the moment. The New York Times, citing sources, said Trump was showing minor symptoms.

In a tweet shortly before 1 a.m. ET, Trump said: “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”

Shortly after Trump’s tweet, U.S. stock futures moved sharply lower with Dow futures falling more than 500 points at one point. Dow were down nearly 500 points just ahead of the open Friday.

Trump is now the most powerful figure to come down with Covid-19. Previously, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had tested positive for coronavirus and survived, as did Britain’s Prince Charles.

Trump’s track record

Trump has come under withering criticism for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, where over 7.2 million have been infected and more than 207,000 people have died, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University.

The president has admitted on tape to knowingly downplaying the severity of the virus and has pushed an overly optimistic outlook on the disease as it spread across the country.

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