President Donald Trump on Sunday afternoon made a surprise visit to supporters who have been gathered outside Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, riding by in his presidential motorcade, waving while wearing his mask.
CNN broadcast the images live, unaware that Trump had tweeted out that he was about to surprise supporters with a visit. That prompted questions as to whether Trump was headed back to the White House a day earlier than expected.
Trump, who is being treated for COVID-19, is seen wearing a cloth mask while others in the black SUV are wearing medical-grade N95 masks. The Secret Service members driving Trump also wore protective eyewear and gowns.
Trump tweeted out a video announcing his visit about 10 minutes prior.
"We're getting great reports from the doctor. This is an incredible hospital. Walter Reed, the work they do is just absolutely amazing and I want to thank them all. The nurses, the doctors, everybody here. I've also gotten to meet some of the soldiers and first responders. What a group," the president said.
"I also think we're going to pay a little surprise to some of the great patriots that we have out on the street. They've been out there for a long time. They've got Trump flags and they love our country. I'm not telling anybody but you, but I'm about to make a little surprise visit. So perhaps I'll get there before you get to see me."
Trump has reportedly been upset with the messaging from doctors and his chief of staff Mark Meadows that has shown conflicting information on how he is doing, and the appearance also allowed him to show clearly how he doing.
The president in his video also said he's learned a lot about COVID-19.
"I learned it by really going to school. This is the real school. This isn't the 'let's read the book school,'" he said.
"And I get it. And I understand it. And it's very interesting thing and I'm going to be letting you know about it. In the meantime, we love the USA and we love what's happening."
While the move was met with praise by supporters, critics, including some in the medical community, called it irresponsible.
Dr. James P. Phillips, chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University Department of Emergency Medicine and an attending physician at Walter Reed, tweeted:
"Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential 'drive-by' just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity.
"That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack. The risk of COVID19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures. The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play."