Trump had 'infiltrates' on his lungs and officials feared he needed a ventilator at Walter Reed for COVID

Former President Donald Trump was much sicker than was revealed when he went to the hospital with COVID-19 in October, according to new reporting.

According to a bombshell New York Times report published on Thursday, it was revealed that Trump had "infiltrates" on his lungs. An "infiltrate" is "an abnormal substance that accumulates gradually within cells or body tissues," experts explained on a radiology site.

Trump, who had tested positive for COVID-19 around the first debate with Joe Biden, had blood oxygen levels that fell significantly, into the 80s. Twice Trump was given supplemental oxygen before he was taken to the hospital. He was ultimately told by his aides that things were so bad he should go to the hospital soon, anticipating a PR disaster if he couldn't walk by himself and had to be carried out by Secret Service.

Trump was then taken to Walter Reed National Medical Center where officials were concerned he would need a ventilator.

"The new details about his condition and about the effort inside the White House to get him special access to an unapproved drug to fight the virus help to flesh out one of the most dire episodes of Mr. Trump's presidency," said the report.

In the days that followed, the severity of Trump's condition was downplayed by doctors who spoke to the media. Dr. Sean P. Conley was asked by reporters if there was evidence of pneumonia or damage to the tissue after it was revealed Trump had an x-ray and CT scan, both of which would have shown the "infiltrate." Dr. Conley refused to answer, instead, saying the results were "expected findings, but nothing of any major clinical concern."

Read the full report.