Twitter | @fabiowajngarten

Brazilian Official Tests Positive For Coronavirus Just Days After Meeting Trump

Updated September 6, 2021

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's press secretary has tested positive for the coronavirus just four days after meeting President Donald Trump, CNN reported.

Fabio Wajngarten was part of a Brazilian delegation that recently visited the U.S. and met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida over the weekend.

To commemorate their gathering, a photo was taken and later uploaded to Wajngarten's Instagram page, showing him standing next to Trump with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Bolsonaro also in attendance.

The Brazilian official captioned the group shot, "Make Brazil Great Again," in reference to the monogrammed hats featured in the picture.

Following Wajngarten's positive test, President Bolsnaro is reportedly being monitored for the coronavirus.

Buzzfeed News reported a Brazilian government source revealed they suspect the press secretary contracted the virus during his visit to the U.S., not before.

On Thursday, Trump spoke to press in the Oval Office and addressed Wajngarten testing positive for the virus.

YouTube | QuickTake by Bloomberg

"I did hear something about that," he said. "We had dinner together in Florida, at Mar-a-Lago, with the entire delegation. I don’t know if the press aide was there, if he was there he was there, but we did nothing very unusual. We sat together for a period of time, had a great conversation. [Bolsonaro's] doing a terrific job in Brazil, and we’ll find out what happens — I guess they’re being tested right now."

Trump added, "Let’s put it this way: I’m not concerned."

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has since released a statement about the matter.

Unsplash | David Everett Strickler

As per the statement:

"The White House is aware of public reports that a member of the Brazilian delegation‘s visit to Mar-a-Lago last weekend tested positive for COVID-19; confirmatory testing is pending. Exposures from the case are being assessed, which will dictate next steps. Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time."