(The Hill) — A White House guest who was attending President Trump’s announcement about lowering the cost of obesity drugs fainted in the Oval Office, causing the event to be cut short.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement shortly after that the man was OK and identified him as a representative of one of the health care companies in attendance.
David Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, was speaking when the guest, who was standing among Trump administration officials and healthcare executives behind the Resolute Desk, fell and needed assistance from others to be lowered to the floor.
“You OK?” Ricks asked, as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz and others provided assistance.
Other attendees helped lay the man down on the ground and elevate his feet as reporters were being taken out of the room. Trump, who had been seated behind the Resolute Desk, stood up to watch over the guest before cameras cut out.
Press was ushered out of the room. Attendees had been standing for roughly 30 minutes while Trump and others spoke at the time of the incident.
Leavitt said the event would resume shortly.
Thursday’s incident was not the first time a guest fainted during an Oval Office event this year. A young girl passed out during Oz’s swearing-in ceremony in April, prompting press to be quickly ushered out of the room in that instance as well. Officials later said the girl, who was a family member of Oz, was OK.
Source: Fox 8 News Channel
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