By David Ian Klein October 5, 2020

Donald Trump wondered on his way to Walter Reed Medical Center Friday whether he was “going out” like a Syrian-Jewish businessman friend who died of COVID-19 in April.

The question highlights the likely severity of Trump’s case of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, even as he has sought to project strength to his supporters over the weekend.

“Am I going out like Stan Chera?” the president reportedly asked his aide.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Conversations w Republicans close to WH over last 12 hours indicate it’s been far more dire than WH has said. Before being taken to Walter Reed, Trump kept asking aides, “Am I going out like Stan Chera? Am I?” (Chera was Trump’s NYC friend who died of Covid in April)

— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) October 3, 2020

Stanley Chera, a close friend of President Donald Trump, was a Brooklyn born Syrian-Jewish real estate developer and philanthropist, who owned several high-end Manhattan properties, such as the St. Regis New York Hotel. His death from COVID-19 in April has been credited with making the pandemic real to the president.

“He’s sort of a tough guy. A little older, a little heavier than he’d like to be, frankly. And you call up the next day: ‘How’s he doing?’ And he’s in a coma? This is not the flu,” President Donald Trump said shortly before Chera’s death.

In August, Trump held a fundraiser at Chera’s home, where he was praised by the late real estate developer’s son, Haim Chera.

“Your sincerity and care for my father I will never forget,” Haim Chera said to Trump. “You told me he was a real friend to you, and that you knew Stanley was an authentic friend, with no agenda other than to support you.”

Before his death, Stanley Chera had donated more than half a million dollars to the president’s election and re-election campaigns.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount