Donald Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows tests positive for coronavirus

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows

Credit: REUTERS/Leah Millis

US 2020 election

Donald Trump’s chief of staff has been diagnosed with coronavirus in a setback to the president’s effort to legally dispute election counts.

Mark Meadows’ diagnosis came on a day the United States set a daily record for confirmed cases.

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Mr Meadows, 61, is one of Mr Trump’s closest aides and heavily involved in his post-election strategy.

He travelled with Mr Trump in the frenzied run-up to Election Day, and was at a White House election night party attended by dozens of the president’s supporters.

Mr Meadows last appeared in public, with Mr Trump, early on Wednesday morning, without a mask. He has frequently not worn a mask at public events.

The White House chief of staff was one of the few close aides around Mr Trump when the president came down with the virus more than a month ago.

At the time Mr Meadows was tested daily and maintained his regular work schedule.

His diagnosis was the latest case of the virus in the West Wing.

Those who have tested positive in recent weeks include Mr Trump’s press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Marc Short, chief of staff to vice-president Mike Pence.

Mr Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and at least two dozen other people tested positive in early October after a gathering in the White House rose garden to announce the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

The president has repeatedly said the US is "rounding the turn" on the pandemic. But cases have increased more than 50 per cent in the past two weeks.