Donald Trump reportedly wanted to wear a Superman T-shirt underneath his clothes so he could rip open his shirt when he left hospital last week.
The New York Times reports the US president pitched the idea of appearing frail and weak as he left the hospital, but would then pull his shirt open to reveal the Superman logo.
The 74-year-old reportedly raised his bizarre plan several times during phone calls from the hospital but it was dropped.
Despite this, his release from hospital was still tinged with theatrics. Trump left the building, illuminated by lights which had been specially set up. He waved to cameras before getting in an SUV which took him to a waiting helicopter.
Once back at the White House, Trump posted a slow-motion video of his helicopter arriving, set to dramatic music.
Trump was hospitalised with COVID-19 in early October and spent three days at Walter Reed Medical Centre before he was released. He intends to continue with his election campaign, planning to travel to the key battleground state of Florida on Monday, followed by rallies in Pennsylvania and Iowa on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
Trump's physician said on Saturday the president had taken a test showing he was no longer infectious and there was no evidence "of actively replicating virus," but did not directly say whether Trump had tested negative.
