Gov. DeWine is third GOP positive near Trump in recent testing

The announcement on Thursday that Gov. Mike DeWine (R) of Ohio had tested positive for Coronavirus before meeting with President Donald Trump was the third time in the last week that White House virus testing had stopped a Republican politician from meeting with the President.

"Governor Mike DeWine took a test for COVID-19 as part of the standard protocol to greet President Donald Trump on the tarmac at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland," the Governor's office said in a statement.

“Governor DeWine tested positive. Governor DeWine has no symptoms at the present time,” as the Governor and his office said he was not experiencing any illness.

Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted - who tested negative in the same type of pre-event screening - stood in for DeWine in welcoming the President to Ohio.

Last week, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) was prevented from flying on Air Force One with President Trump on a trip to Texas after testing positive in a routine pre-flight White House screening.

Also, a GOP Congressional candidate, Wesley Hunt, on the ground in Texas tested positive, and was prevented from greeting the President upon arrival.

Like DeWine, both men were said to be asymptomatic - but it still raised questions about the reach of the virus outbreak.

“Governor of Ohio, DeWine, just tested positive,” the President told a small crowd gathered on the tarmac. “And we want to wish him the best. He’ll be fine.”