US mobilises missile command planes following Trump's coronavirus diagnosis
The United States military mobilised aircraft on each side of the country to act as mid-air command centres following President Trump's positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
Flight radars recorded two E-6B Mercury Aircraft take off from both the east and west coasts of America soon after the news broke.
Known as "airborne command posts", the aircraft have the ability to remotely control land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles.
READ MORE: White House releases note from the President's doctor on his condition
They operate as part of the US' "Looking Glass" program, which provides command and control of the United State's nuclear forces in the air in the event that ground-based command centres become inoperable.
Pundits online believe the airing of these two aircraft come as a discrete message to international rivals that the country is still prepared despite the President entering quarantine.
It appears as if the aircraft have been routinely flying over the past four weeks.
The E-6B Mercury mid flight. US Navy
TRUMP'S POSITIVE TEST SHOCKS MARKETS
US stock futures plunged Friday after President Donald Trump said that he and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus.
Dow futures were last down 439 points, or 1.6 per cent.
S&P 500 futures were down 2 per cent and Nasdaq futures were down 1.8 per cent.
MAIN STORY: US President Donald Trump diagnosed with coronavirus
Donald Trump has tested positive to coronavirus. AP
Oil prices have also fallen upon news of the President testing positive.
Crude oil dropped almost 3 per cent in the 10 minutes following Mr Trump's tweet.
Oilprice.com
Stock futures were lower earlier as news broke that top Trump aide Hope Hicks tested positive for the virus, and that Trump and his wife would be tested and would start a "quarantine process."
But those losses quickly accelerated after Trump said those tests were positive.
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