After the presidential debate took place on September 29, President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19, as well as first lady Melania Trump. The results of the positive tests threw the nation’s leadership into uncertainty, while the virus has now taken the lives of over 207,000 Americans.

For months, President Trump has broken down the seriousness of the virus and the outcomes that come along with it. According to the New York Times, President Trump is optimistic about the pandemic’s outcome.

“The end of the pandemic is in sight,” President Trump said.

President Trump is now forced to quarantine in the White House for an unspecified period of time, causing him to take a temporary withdrawal from the campaign, which is only 32 days away from the election.

President Trump’s close advisor, Hope Hicks, tested positive for COVID as well. First Lady Melania Trump wrote that the first couple was feeling good; however, the White House did not announce if any of them were showing symptoms. President Trump’s physician said he could carry out his duties “without disruption” from the Executive Mansion.

With the result of the positive COVID-19 test President Trump received, it caused immediate challenges for the future of his campaign against former Vice President Joseph Biden Jr., with barely a month left until election day. Even if President Trump remains asymptomatic, he will lose tons of remaining time on the campaign trail. Even worse, if he begins to show symptoms, it can cause debate on whether he should remain on the ballot at all.

With the cancellation of President Trump’s plans to fly to Florida for a campaign rally and completely stripping his plans of the day, he has been left with only telephone calls. As the White House did not announce how long the president would have to remain isolated, appearances in Arizona rallies have been scrapped as well as the next debate which was scheduled for October 15 in Miami.

For months, President Trump has refused to wear a mask out in the public eye and has questioned if they are even effective at all. He even mocked competitor Joe Biden for wearing one at their open debate.

“I don’t wear masks like him. Every time you see him, he’s got a mask,” President Trump said.

Even if President Trump does not become seriously ill, his positive COVID test can be shown as devastating to his political fortunes after his months of breaking down the enormity of the global pandemic. It was not immediately clear whether President Trump had already been infected by the virus at the time of the debate with Biden, even when both of them stood 6 feet apart on stage, sharing their opinions.