The episode neatly illustrates the unusual position of the President's physician, who is bound by law and ethics to protect his patient's privacy but whose knowledge is also a matter of public interest. Trump, who has a known aversion to illness and was in the middle of an intense presidential campaign at the time of his positive test, cultivated unique relationships with his two White House doctors, each of whom generated controversy during his tenure.

While Trump denied having Covid prior to the first debate, the positive result on September 26, 2020, sparked fresh concerns that Trump put his Democratic opponent at risk in the debate hall, along with the dozens of aides and visitors -- including Gold Star families attending a reception -- whom Trump met with at the White House while maintaining a full schedule.

Trump's positive test -- which was followed by a negative result in that same timeframe, several days before he was hospitalized due to Covid-19 -- was revealed via Mark Meadows' memoir, "The Chief's Chief," a copy of which was obtained by The Guardian ahead of the book's publication next week.