Attendees At Trump's NJ Event Say They're Not Worried About COVID

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Despite President Donald Trump's positive coronavirus test, some attendees of his fundraising campaign in Bedminster last week tell Patch they are not worried.

In the past six months since the coronavirus pandemic hit, pharmaceutical executive and political activist Richard Roberts said they took every precaution possible. He has only left his home four times, canceled a large synagogue event in Lakewood, and is taking extra zinc.

As irony would have it, one of the times he left the home would be when Roberts dined at the same table with President Trump during his political fundraiser at his golf club in Bedminster on Oct. 1. Trump tested positive for COVID-19 the next day.

Roberts, who gave just under $900,000 to Trump's campaign, was invited to the fundraiser as one of the 17 donors to sit with Trump.

"I thought it was funny," Roberts said of finding out Trump's positive test. "It was ironic almost hysterical."

"I was one of the closest ones to him for the hour-long meeting, I was maybe 8 feet away," said Roberts, the former owner of URL Pharma.

Roberts noted he was even able to take pictures with Trump but they were placed 5 to 6 feet apart and were told they would be photoshopped in together.

Another attendee, Peapack resident Katherine Hermes who was seated in the "cheap seats" — as she called it — was also at the event and doesn't fault Trump for attending the event despite finding out hours later he had the virus.

Hermes, in an interview with Patch, said she was about 40 feet away from the president and was outside. The rest of the attendees were also distanced from Trump, she said.

Nothing seemed off about Trump during his visit either. Hermes said Trump was "charming, funny, and cracking little one-liners."

"There was nothing scary about it," Hermes said. "To be around the president, a world leader, and be there was a pretty cool event."

The event compelled the state Department of Health to undergo contact tracing, and Gov. Phil Murphy has since blasted Trump for his decision to come to New Jersey after he was exposed to the virus. Murphy told CBS This Morning on Monday that it was the "wrong decision at every level." Read More: Gov. Murphy: Trump's Visit To NJ 'Wrong Decision At Every Level'

Since the event and news of the President's positive COVID-19 test, the state Department of Health said it's received the names of at least 206 people who attended. Read More: More Warnings For Possible COVID-19 Exposure From Trump NJ Visit

But leading up to the event, Hermes said that plenty of precautions were taken. She said everyone was wearing masks, her temperature was taken, she was asked to fill out a questionnaire and also had her cell phone taken.

Roberts said the only reason he agreed to go to the event was that the Secret Service was testing everyone for COVID-19 before entering.

"The Secret Service will face a gunman and die for the President so I just assumed they would use the absolute frontline technology to test everyone for the coronavirus to protect the president," Roberts said. "No matter what test the Secret Service used ... I know as a scientist there are false negatives and I knew there would be a small risk."

It is not clear if the president was tested before the fundraising event since the White House will not release information on when Trump last tested negative for COVID-19.

During the event, Hermes was pleased with how the Trump National Club employees handled themselves and said their behavior was "top-notch".

Staff wore masks and food was served in individualized portions, and even the salads were served in little cups for guests to pour on their own plates, attendees said.

"We wore masks the entire time from the bus ride over, through the entry and arrival portion, and even when seated until we were given our food and drink. We only took off the masks so we could eat," Hermes said. "We followed all the guidelines needed to follow."

Of the attendees listed, about half were reportedly from New Jersey, including the staff members of the club who live in Somerset County.

Additionally, as of Wednesday, there have been no known positive COVID-19 cases reported in connection to the Bedminster fundraiser, according to NBC.

Contact tracing by New Jersey health officials is ongoing and to date, they say they've been able to inform 184 of the 206 attendees about their exposure, according to NBC.

Hermes said she was contacted by the state but was not told to quarantine or to get a COVID-19 test done.

"I was told, basically, if I don't feel well go seek medical attention," Hermes said.

Roberts said he's not worried about contracting the virus, either. He also said he did not get tested for COVID-19 since he was already quarantining. Instead, he will continue his regiment of taking vitamin D, zinc and hydroxychloroquine.

Hermes said that Trump "behaved in a very responsible manner."

"If you're feeling fine and he looked fine, why wouldn't you continue on with your day?" Hermes said of Trump's actions.

Roberts also didn't show any ill will or anger towards Trump for his decision to come to New Jersey. Instead, Roberts noted that it is an election year and everything is about politics.

"I would expect that [Gov. Phil Murphy] would make an issue of it," Roberts said.

Since the event, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office is also investigating whether the event complied with social distancing rules and if it exceeded capacity limits.

"As we have done throughout the pandemic, we are not going to comment on an alleged violation. Nor do we confirm or deny the existence of investigations," said Steven Barnes, director of communications of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

Parents of the Far Hills school district were also sent a message asking anyone at the golf club over the last 48 hours to keep their children home, according to news12.

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