There are no changes to Defense Department alert levels since President Donald Trump announced he has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the Pentagon said on Friday.

Trump announced early Friday on Twitter that he and first lady Melania Trump had received the diagnosis. They were tested shortly after it became known that Trump adviser Hope Hicks had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Before Trump's announcement, trackers spotted one E-6B Mercury flying along the East Coast, and another in airspace above Oregon on Friday morning, and suggested the move could be related to the commander-in-chief's diagnosis.

"There's been no change to DoD alert levels," Jonathan Hoffman, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs said Friday in a statement.

"The U.S. military stands ready to defend our country and interests. There's no change to the readiness or capability of our armed forces. Our national command and control structure is in no way affected by this announcement," Hoffman said.

Hoffman noted that the timing of the takeoff of the E-6Bs was "purely coincidental."

The launch, he said, was "pre-planned" and not connected to anything Trump announced.

The U.S. Navy has a fleet of 16 E-6B Mercury aircraft, at least one of which is airborne at any moment, that carry special communications equipment to connect them with submarines carrying nuclear weapons.

The aircraft can function as nuclear command posts for use if ground-based command centers become inoperable, and often referred to as "Doomsday planes."

The U.S. Strategic Command concurred.

"I can confirm these flights were pre-planned missions," said Karen Singer, Strategic Command spokesperson on Friday.

The Pentagon also noted that Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley last met with the president on Sunday, and that both men were tested for the COVID-19 virus this week, with negative results.

World leaders wish Trump a speedy recovery
Paris (AFP) Oct 3, 2020 - World leaders have wished US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania a quick recovery following his announcement that they were quarantining after testing positive for coronavirus.

- China -

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan extended their sympathies to Trump and First Lady Melania and said they "hope for your speedy recovery," the foreign ministry said.

- Russia -

"I am convinced that your vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus," the Kremlin quoted President Vladimir Putin as saying.

"Of course we wish President Trump a speedy and easy recovery," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

- UN -

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "sends his best wishes to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a quick and complete recovery," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

- WHO -

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wished the couple "a full and speedy recovery".

Trump is pulling the United States out of the UN health agency, accusing it of mishandling the coronavirus pandemic and being too close to China.

- EU -

"Wishing @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a speedy recovery. Covid-19 is a battle we all continue to fight. Everyday. No matter where we live," European Union chief Charles Michel said in a tweet, referring also to the First Lady of the United States.

- North Korea -

Leader Kim Jong Un "offered his sympathy to the president and the first lady", the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

"He sincerely hoped that they would be recovered as soon as possible."

This marks the first time Kim has sent a message to a world leader who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

- UK -

"My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted. "Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus."

Johnson himself spent three nights in intensive care in April after contracting Covid-19.

- France -

"Dear Donald, My best wishes to you and Melania as you are now fighting the virus together. Brigitte and I think of you both and express our most friendly support. Stay strong and keep going," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a message in English.

Addressing the first lady as "my dearest Melania", Brigitte Macron added: "... please accept my warmest wishes for a prompt recovery. I know you both are strong and will prevail".

- Germany -

"I send Donald and Melania Trump all my good wishes," Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert tweeted on her behalf.

"I hope that they recover well from their corona infection and will be quite healthy again soon."

- Austria -

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said: "I wish a full & swift recovery to @realdonaldtrump & @FLOTUS. #COVID19 is a worldwide pandemic which we all need to fight together."

- NATO -

"My best wishes to @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS. I hope they both have a speedy recovery from COVID-19," the alliance's chief Jens Stoltenberg said.

- Canada -

Canadian President Justin Trudeau tweeted: "Sophie and I are sending our best wishes to @POTUSTrump and @FLOTUS. We hope you both get well soon and have a full recovery from this virus."

- India -

"Wishing my friend @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a quick recovery and good health," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.

- Israel -

"Like millions of Israelis, Sara and I are thinking of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and wish our friends a full and speedy recovery," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

- Egypt -

"My sincere wishes for a speedy recovery to US President Donald Trump and the First Lady," Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said.

He said he wanted the couple to "quickly overcome this stage and return to complete health and wellness to resume leading the valued US efforts to combat this virus worldwide".

- Jordan -

King Abdullah II said he was "wishing US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania a speedy and full recovery. Jordan is keen to continue working with the US and other partners to counter COVID-19 and its implications around the world".

- South Korea -

"Together with the people of the Republic of Korea, my wife and I wish you and the First Lady a speedy recovery. We would also like to convey our sincere words of encouragement and support to your family and the people of the United States of America," President Moon Jae-in said.

- Poland -

"Our good wishes for speedy recovery to our Friends @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS. #Poland and #USA will get through the hardships and succeed in fighting #COVID19," Polish President Andrzej Duda tweeted.

- Zimbabwe -

In Africa, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa tweeted: "My best wishes to President Trump @realdonaldtrump and the First Lady @FLOTUS as they make a full recovery from COVID-19."

- Colombia-

In South America, Colombian President Ivan Duque tweeted: "With the news they have tested positive for #COVID19, we express our solidarity with the president of the United States, @realDonaldTrump and the First Lady, @MELANIATRUMP. We wish them a quick recovery."

- Guatemala -

The Guatemalan government tweeted: "The @GuatemalaGob wishes President Donald Trump @POTUS and the First Lady Melania Trump @FLOTUS, a speedy recovery of #COVID19".

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

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