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Photos: Inside Amy Coney Barrett’s White House reception

Politics

President Donald Trump is joined by a few members of his staff, the first lady, Amy Coney Barrett and Barrett’s family during a Oval Office photo op on Saturday, September 26. Barrett is third from right, next to Melania Trump. Her husband, Jesse, is in the back center. At left is White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, next to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.

Andrea Hanks/White House

By Dana Bash and Kevin Bohn, CNN

Updated 11:19 AM ET, Mon October 5, 2020

President Donald Trump is joined by a few members of his staff, the first lady, Amy Coney Barrett and Barrett’s family during a Oval Office photo op on Saturday, September 26. Barrett is third from right, next to Melania Trump. Her husband, Jesse, is in the back center. At left is White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, next to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.

Andrea Hanks/White House

Since President Donald Trump announced his positive Covid-19 test, public attention has centered on the Rose Garden ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court announcement and how a number of its attendees have since tested positive.

But there was also a smaller, private reception inside the White House — one that did not include wearing masks and did not include social distancing.

After the public event, dozens of attendees gathered inside the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room and the adjoining hallway. The reception lasted between 30 and 45 minutes, one source with knowledge of the event told CNN.

CNN is told the attendees did not wear masks, and pictures of the event show no social distancing.

Pictures of the reception taken by the New York Times’ photographer Doug Mills and White House photographer Andrea Hanks capture a group of people talking very close together, with one image showing first lady Melania Trump, Barrett and her family posing shoulder to shoulder and directly behind Trump in the Oval Office.

The widow of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, Maureen Scalia, is seen talking to Barrett in one photo. In another, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who has now tested positive, is seen in very close proximity to Barrett.

The President and first lady Melania Trump can be seen talking to a few other attendees separately in the room.

Also seen in the room is Attorney General William Barr, who spent several minutes talking up close to former presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway in the Rose Garden earlier. Conway has since announced that she tested positive for the virus.

The first lady applauds Barrett in the Oval Office prior to the official announcement.

Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux

One of Barrett’s daughters has several people’s attention, including the President’s, during the White House reception. On the left side of the photo, looking down in the blue suit, is Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, who tested negative for the virus, according to his office. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who like the Trumps has tested positive, is seen at right talking to Barrett. CORRECTION: This caption has been updated to correctly state that Sen. Ben Sasse tested negative for coronavirus.

Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux

US Sen. Mike Lee and his wife, Sharon, chat with Barrett. Lee has also tested positive since the reception.

Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux

Barrett talks with Maureen Scalia, wife of late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux

Trump talks privately with Barrett.

Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux

The Trumps welcome Barrett and her children to the Oval Office.

Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux

Barrett and a couple of her children listen to Trump in the Oval Office.

Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux

Barrett with six of her seven children at the White House reception.

Andrea Hanks/White House

Sen. Thom Tillis, who has now tested positive for coronavirus, talks with one of Barrett’s children.

Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux

The Barretts and the Trumps pose for a photo.

Andrea Hanks/White House

Trump smiles while chatting with Barrett’s children.

Andrea Hanks/White House

If confirmed by the Senate, Barrett would be the fifth woman to become a Supreme Court justice.

Andrea Hanks/White House