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Trump returns to White House after COVID treatment
President Donald Trump returned to the White House Monday evening after being treated for COVID-19 for three days at the hospital, and removed his mask to pose for photos on a balcony before walking into the residence.
Trump didn’t speak to reporters at the White House and only said “thank you very much” to those gathered at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center before boarding the presidential helicopter. Back at the White House, he walked up the South Portico stairs to the balcony, where he removed his mask, flashed thumbs-up with both hands and saluted for several seconds.
He did not appear to put his mask back on before walking into the residence. The show of defiance toward both the virus and public health measures to combat its spread was in keeping with the president’s tone earlier when he announced he would leave the Bethesda, Maryland, hospital.
In a video released shortly afterward, Trump said of the virus: “Don’t let it dominate you.”
“I knew there’s danger to it. But I had to do it. I stood out front. I led. Nobody that’s a leader would not do what I did. I know there’s a risk. I know there’s a danger. But that’s O.K. And now I’m better. Maybe I’m immune, I don’t know,” he said.
“Get out there, be careful,” Trump added. “The vaccines are coming momentarily.”
The president has received medical care unavailable to most people, including three powerful medicines and an airlift to and from the hospital. The virus has infected more than 7.4 million Americans and has killed more than 210,000 since February, including 475 on Sunday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
The president’s aides hope to keep him at the White House residence and away from the Oval Office but are uncertain how long that will last, according to people familiar with the matter.“We’ll be back on the campaign trail soon!!!” Trump tweeted before leaving the hospital.
“Over the past 24 hours, the president has continued to improve. He’s met or exceeded all hospital discharge criteria,” White House physician Sean Conley said at a briefing after Trump’s announcement.
Trump “may not entirely be out of the woods” but the rest of his care can safely be performed at the White House, Conley said.
The race to determine who would be the next US president is well underway. Here’s a look at the developments along the way that lead to the election day on November 3, 2020.
The president received a fourth dose of an antiviral drug, Remdesivir, at Walter Reed before he was discharged and will get a fifth dose at the White House, his medical team said.
“He’s returning to a facility, the White House medical unit, that’s staffed 24-7,” Conley said, adding, “Every day a patient stays in the hospital unnecessarily is a risk to themselves.”
Conley said coronavirus patients could stop shedding the virus in as few as five days after diagnosis, and that Trump would be monitored to determine when he is no longer infectious. The White House plans for Trump to stay in the residence for a few days before returning to normal, one of the people familiar with the matter said.
The White House is creating additional room for Trump to work in the residence, and avoid heading into the Oval Office, by converting the Map Room and Diplomatic Reception Room into office space, according to a person familiar with the matter.
All aides who will see Trump over the next few days will be required to be in full personal protective equipment and maintain physical distance from the president, that person said, asking not to be identified discussing internal preparations.
Conley conceded that the course of Trump’s illness could still take a turn. “We all remain cautiously optimistic and on guard because we’re in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a patient that received the therapies he has so early in the course,” he said.
“We’re looking to this weekend,” Conley added. “If we can get through to Monday with him remaining the same or improving, better yet, then we will all take that final deep sigh of relief.”
Trump has received doses of two other medicines, including an experimental “antibody cocktail” and a steroid, dexamethasone, usually used to combat inflammation in people with more severe cases of Covid-19.
During the news conference, one of Trump’s doctors read off a list of the president’s vital signs as of this morning, including his temperature, blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate and blood-oxygen saturation level. His medical team has not previously released that data to the public.
But Conley declined to discuss the results of scans of Trump’s lungs, citing federal health privacy law.
Trump went to the hospital Friday evening, after announcing early that morning he’d tested positive for the virus. He was briefly administered supplemental oxygen at the White House before traveling to Walter Reed, Conley said Sunday.
The White House did not provide any update on Trump’s health in more than 24 hours between Sunday and Monday. Before he suddenly announced he would leave the hospital, he had not said anything about his condition on Twitter since shortly after 5 pm Sunday.
With less than a month until Election Day, Trump’s hospitalization has jolted the presidential campaign, forcing him to scrap rallies and other events as polls show him trailing Joe Biden nationally and in swing states. His campaign has launched “Operation MAGA,” referring to his Make America Great Again slogan, to flood the campaign trail with top surrogates like Vice President Mike Pence, Trump’s family and others.
Among the aides who were with the president Monday evening as he was preparing to leave Max Miller, the deputy campaign manager for presidential operations, and Bobby Peede, the White House director of advance. They arrived at the hospital just before 3pm, heading to presidential suite.
Peede had the coronavirus earlier this year, according to three people familiar with the matter.
Trump’s release comes after a weekend of mixed signals from Conley, who on Sunday disclosed for the first time that the president had been given supplemental oxygen and received a medication that’s typically used in more severe Covid-19 patients.
Asked why he didn’t disclose during Saturday’s briefing that Trump had received oxygen despite repeated questions about it, Conley said, “I was trying to reflect the upbeat attitude” of the team and the president.
Trump was diagnosed with the disease late Thursday, after a close aide, Hope Hicks, also tested positive for the virus.
The president first tested positive after he returned from a fundraiser at his New Jersey golf resort on Thursday, McEnany told reporters on Sunday evening. Trump made an appearance on Fox News on Thursday night before disclosing on Twitter shortly after midnight on Friday that he had tested positive.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Monday criticized Trump’s travel to the fundraiser at his Bedminster golf resort in the state, saying it ought to have been canceled. The president went to the event despite knowing Hicks had tested positive.
“I hope it’s a lesson that now we’ve all learned,” Murphy said on CBS’s “This Morning.”
Biden, speaking in Miami, wished Trump and the first lady well and said he hoped the president would take mask-wearing seriously.
“I was glad to see the president speaking and recording videos over the weekend,” Biden said. “Now that he’s busy tweeting campaign messages, I would ask him to do this: Listen to the scientists, support masks.”
News
Oyo Police Free Four Kidnapped Passengers on Igbeti–Kishi Road
Oyo Police Free Four Kidnapped Passengers on Igbeti–Kishi Road
The Oyo State Police Command has successfully rescued four passengers abducted along the Igbeti–Kishi Road in the early hours of March 5, 2026, following a swift and coordinated security operation. The incident occurred when armed hoodlums emerged from nearby bushland and blocked a commercial bus, forcefully taking four passengers into the surrounding forests.
Upon receiving reports of the abduction, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Femi Haruna, immediately directed the Divisional Police Officers in Igbeti and Kishi, alongside tactical units and security stakeholders, to deploy all operational resources for a rescue mission.
A joint security team comprising Oyo Police operatives, members of the Amotekun Corps, Operation Burst, and other local security agencies conducted intensive bush combing operations in the forests surrounding the area. The sustained operation forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims and flee, allowing the authorities to rescue all four passengers unharmed. The victims have since been reunited with their families.
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The police spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, commended the professionalism and bravery of the combined security forces, highlighting that collaboration among security agencies is vital to ensuring safety across the state. The command also appreciated the Oyo State Government under Governor Seyi Makinde for promptly mobilizing resources and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for strategic guidance in the ongoing fight against crime.
Investigations and intelligence-led operations are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and ensure they are brought to justice. Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to support security efforts.
The incident underscores the continued commitment of the Oyo State Police and security agencies to protect travellers on vulnerable highways, particularly areas with increased reports of highway abductions and criminal activity. Patrols and security presence along the Igbeti–Kishi corridor and other vulnerable routes have been intensified to prevent future attacks.
Oyo Police Free Four Kidnapped Passengers on Igbeti–Kishi Road
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BREAKING: Tinubu Posts Yakubu, Omokri, Fani-Kayode, 62 Other Ambassadors (Full List)
BREAKING: Tinubu Posts Yakubu, Omokri, Fani-Kayode, 62 Other Ambassadors (Full List)
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved the posting of 65 Nigerian ambassadors and high commissioners to diplomatic missions across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s foreign policy and international engagement.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that the list comprises 31 non-career diplomats and 34 career ambassadors whose appointments were earlier confirmed by the Senate.
The newly posted envoys include prominent politicians, retired military officers and seasoned diplomats tasked with representing Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic and strategic interests abroad.
Among the notable postings, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, has been posted to Qatar, while former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany.
Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has been deployed to Mexico City, while former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been assigned to Spain.
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Businessman and senator Jimoh Ibrahim will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
According to the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already begun securing diplomatic approval, known as agrément, from host countries. The United Kingdom has granted agrément for Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, while France has approved the posting of Ayo Oke.
President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately begin the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners, after which they will proceed to their respective missions once final approvals are secured.
The appointments are part of the administration’s broader effort to reinvigorate Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, attract foreign investment, strengthen bilateral relations and expand trade and security cooperation globally.
Non-Career Ambassadors / High Commissioners
| S/N | Name | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senator Grace Bent | Lome, Togo |
| 2 | Senator Ita Enang | South Africa |
| 3 | Victor Ikpeazu | Spain |
| 4 | Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu | Tel-Aviv, Israel |
| 5 | Mahmud Yakubu | Qatar |
| 6 | Paul Oga Adikwu | Vatican City |
| 7 | Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas | Philippines |
| 8 | Reno Omokri | Mexico |
| 9 | Abasi Braimah | Hungary |
| 10 | Angela Adebayo | Portugal |
| 11 | Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa | Japan |
| 12 | Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi | Greece |
| 13 | Chioma Priscilla Ohakim | Poland |
| 14 | Aminu Dalhatu | United Kingdom |
| 15 | Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau | China |
| 16 | Tasiu Musa Maigari | Gambia |
| 17 | Olufemi Pedro | Australia |
| 18 | Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu | Argentina |
| 19 | Lateef Kayode Are | United States |
| 20 | Joseph Sola Iji | Russia |
| 21 | Jimoh Ibrahim | United Nations |
| 22 | Femi Fani-Kayode | Germany |
| 23 | Isaak Folorunso Adewole | Canada |
| 24 | Fatima Florence Ajimobi | Austria |
| 25 | Lola Akande | Sweden |
| 26 | Ayo Oke | France |
| 27 | Yakubu N. Gambo | Saudi Arabia |
| 28 | Nora Ladi Daduut | South Korea |
| 29 | Joe Okocha (SAN) | Ireland |
| 30 | Kulu Haruna Abubakar | Tunisia |
| 31 | Jerry Samuel Manwe | Trinidad and Tobago |
Career Ambassadors / High Commissioners
| S/N | Name | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka | Cote d’Ivoire |
| 2 | Besto Maimuna Ibrahim | Niger |
| 3 | Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi | Sao Tome & Principe |
| 4 | Mohammed Mahmud Lele | Algeria |
| 5 | Endoni Syndoph Paebi | Burkina Faso |
| 6 | Ahmed Mohammed Monguno | Egypt |
| 7 | Jane Adams Michael | Jamaica |
| 8 | Alexandra Clark-Omeru | Zambia |
| 9 | Chima Geoffrey Lioma David | Mali |
| 10 | Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah | Equatorial Guinea |
| 11 | Wasa Segun Ige | Lebanon |
| 12 | Ruben Abimbola Samuel | Italy |
| 13 | Ogechukwu Kingsley Onaga | Mozambique |
| 14 | Magaji Umar | DR Congo |
| 15 | Muhammad Saidu Dahiru | India |
| 16 | Abdussalam Habu Zayyad | Senegal |
| 17 | Shehu Ilu Barde | Ghana |
| 18 | Aminu Nasir | Ethiopia |
| 19 | Abubakar Musa Musa | Chad |
| 20 | Haidara Mohammed Idris | Netherlands |
| 21 | Bako Adamu Umar | Morocco |
| 22 | Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed | Malaysia |
| 23 | Romata Mohammed Omobolanle | Tanzania |
| 24 | Shaga John Shamah | Botswana |
| 25 | Hamza Mohammed Salau | Iran |
| 26 | Ibrahim Danlami | Kenya |
| 27 | Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola | Benin |
| 28 | Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel | Belgium |
| 29 | Wahab Adekola Akande | Switzerland |
| 30 | Esther Arewa Adedokun | Namibia |
| 31 | Gergadi Joseph John | Gabon |
| 32 | Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata | Sierra Leone |
| 33 | Danladi Yakubu Nyaku | Sudan |
| 34 | Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru | Thailand |
BREAKING: Tinubu Posts Yakubu, Omokri, Fani-Kayode, 62 Other Ambassadors (Full List)
News
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
The United States Justice Department has released additional FBI documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including interview records from a woman who alleged that U.S. President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her after being introduced to him by Epstein.
The newly disclosed documents were made public on Thursday as part of the ongoing release of records related to the Epstein investigation. According to the Justice Department, the materials were not included in earlier congressionally mandated disclosures because they had been incorrectly labelled as “duplicative” records during the document review process.
The files include summaries of several 2019 interviews conducted by the FBI with the woman, who claimed she was between 13 and 15 years old when she was sexually assaulted by Epstein in the 1980s.
According to the interview summaries, the woman told investigators that Epstein once took her to either New York or New Jersey and introduced her to Trump in what she described as a tall building.
She alleged that during the encounter, Trump attempted to force her to perform oral sex, but she resisted and bit him, causing the alleged assault attempt to stop.
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The woman further told investigators that Epstein had abused her repeatedly over several years and had sometimes arranged encounters with other men.
During the interviews, she also said that she and people close to her had received threatening phone calls over the years warning her to remain silent, which she suspected were connected to Epstein.
Despite the allegations, the FBI did not bring charges related to the claims, and records indicate that investigators eventually stopped communicating with the woman later in 2019.
Justice Department officials have cautioned that the allegations contained in the newly released documents are uncorroborated and noted that some materials submitted during the Epstein investigation included “untrue and sensationalist claims” involving President Trump.
President Trump has repeatedly denied any misconduct linked to Epstein or the allegations contained in the documents.
The release of the additional files has sparked renewed political scrutiny in Washington, with Democrats questioning how the administration handled the disclosure of the Epstein records.
Lawmakers argue that key materials may have been withheld or mishandled during the earlier releases.
In response, a House committee has voted to summon Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files and explain why some documents were not initially disclosed.
The Justice Department maintains that the omission resulted from administrative errors in the massive document review process, which involves millions of pages of records tied to the Epstein investigation.
The disclosures are part of a broader transparency effort following congressional legislation requiring the government to release large volumes of records connected to Epstein, whose high-profile criminal case exposed an extensive network of abuse involving underage victims.
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
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