White House staff must wear masks… except for ‘invulnerable’ Donald Trump

White House staff have been ordered to wear face masks inside the West Wing over growing fears that Donald Trump could be exposed to the virus.

The new guidelines have been released in a memo to the US President’s team after his military valet and Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary both tested positive for Covid-19.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Trump said he did not think those cases suggested precautions for keeping himself and senior members of his administration safe during the pandemic had broken down.

“I felt no vulnerability whatsoever,” he said.

However the President said he would discuss maintaining some distance from his deputy for a period of time.

His comments came as it was revealed that the official coronavirus death toll in the US has now passed 80,000.

Mr Pence worked at the White House yesterday but did not attend the Rose Garden news conference. Officials who were there wore masks, including the President’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, and speakers used a different podium from the one used by the President.

Officials who work near the President have been getting tested for the coronavirus but previously had not been wearing masks on a regular basis.

One senior administration official told Reuters: “Common sense has finally prevailed.”

At 73, the President is in the age group that is considered high risk for complications with the coronavirus.

But he has been resistant to wearing a mask himself, saying last month that he could not envision himself in one. “I just don’t want to be doing, somehow sitting in the Oval Office behind that beautiful resolute desk ... I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents ... I don’t see it for myself. I just don’t. Maybe I’ll change my mind,” he said.

The White House has said it is stepping up precautions for people who spend time around Mr Trump and Mr Pence, both of whom have resumed travel outside Washington. They are being tested for the virus daily.

Mr Pence’s spokeswoman, Katie Miller, is married to Stephen Miller, a senior White House aide and speech writer for the President.

Three members of the White House coronavirus task force, including the leading figure Dr Anthony Fauci, are self-isolating after possible exposure to the virus.

Despite the White House scare, Mr Trump told the press conference his administration had “met the moment” and “prevailed” on virus testing. He said 10 million tests had been conducted and states would receive an extra $11 billion (£9 billion) to help them achieve targets deemed essential to reopening the country’s battered economy.