White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre revealed Sunday night that she had tested positive for COVID-19 after accompanying President Biden on a four-day trip to Belgium and Poland — though the White House revealed Monday that the commander-in-chief had not contracted the virus.
“This afternoon, after returning from the President’s trip to Europe, I took a PCR test. That test came back positive,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
The deputy press secretary added that she last saw Biden “during a socially distanced meeting” on Saturday and claimed that the president was not considered a close contact according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The White House announced Monday that the president had been tested for COVID-19 “as a part of his regular testing cadance” and the test had come back negative.
“I am sharing the news of my positive test today out of an abundance of transparency,” said the fully vaccinated Jean-Pierre, who added that she was experiencing mild symptoms.
The news comes after press secretary Jen Psaki tested positive for COVID days before Biden’s trip to Europe. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images“In alignment with White House COVID-19 protocols, I will work from home and plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of a five-day isolation period and a negative test,” she said.
Positive COVID tests by the top two White House press officials bookended Biden’s visit to Europe.
Press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that she had tested positive for coronavirus and would have to bow out of traveling with the presidential entourage.
The deputy press secretary said the White House does not consider Biden to be in any danger as they were socially distanced throughout the trip. Michael Brochstein/PolarisIt was the second time Psaki, who is fully vaccinated, had tested positive for COVID-19 and been forced to miss an overseas trip.
In October, the virus forced the press secretary to miss Biden’s journey to Italy, the Vatican and the United Kingdom.
In addition to Jean-Pierre and Psaki, second gentleman Doug Emhoff also tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.






