Trump spoke to the group — including a police officer, two nurses, a truck driver and a postal worker — about what they had done to help those around them in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. 

Trump appeared at ease with the group, which appeared to be spaced out throughout the room. He even joked with one police officer — who explained that she had contracted COVID-19 in March and recovered — telling her that her blood was “very valuable” with regard to the treatments that use the plasma of recovered patients to treat the sick.

When CNN cut away from the speeches for a brief reaction, however, their focus was on the fact that those in the room with the president had not strictly observed the recommended social distancing and mask guidelines.