A former GOP congressional candidate in California has claimed that the Democrats deliberately infected President Donald Trump with Covid when the microphone and podium were set up for the president at Tuesday's presidential debate.

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DeAnna Lorraine, who is also conservative commentator, tweeted her statement providing no evidence to support her claims on early Friday morning.

The president announced that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday evening and would sequester themselves in the White House.

Both were tested after Trump confirmed that Hope Hicks, a top aide who travelled with Trump to numerous events this week including the presidential debate, had a positive result in her test for the illness.

"I'm just going to say what we're all thinking. Trump was fine until the debate, where they set up microphones & podiums for him," Lorraine said.

"Incubation period is usually 2-3 days. He tests positive a couple of days after the debate. NOTHING. #TrumpHasCovid," she added.

Trump attended several events throughout the week prior to the debate where he could have been infected. Newsweek has contacted the Commission on Presidential Debates for comment.

According to CBS News, Hicks tested negative for the virus on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning but developed symptoms during the day and received a second test, which came back positive later that evening.

Trump then attended two events on Thursday knowing of Hicks' diagnosis before being tested for the virus that evening. He travelled to New Jersey for a roundtable with supporters and a fundraiser event, two events at which he could have infected attendants.

According to the Harvard Medical School, "a person with Covid-19 may be contagious 48 to 72 hours before starting to experience symptoms. In fact, people without symptoms may be more likely to spread the illness, because they are unlikely to be isolating and may not adopt behaviors designed to prevent spread."

Lorraine, a commentator on conservative news organization Newsmax Media and a former candidate for congress, having run for election to the House of Representatives to represent California's 12th Congressional District this year, made her comments shortly after Trump announced that he had contracted the virus.

"Our President was able to destroy Joe Biden in that debate while having Covid. The man is a machine. Praying for you,@realDonaldTrump! #TrumpHasCovid," she tweeted Thursday evening.

Newsweek