President Donald Trump once again sought to discredit medical experts—including those serving in his own administration—who have pointed out that the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine isn't an effective treatment for the virus that's killed over 150 thousand Americans.
Since baselessly claiming in March that the drug showed promise in treating the virus, Trump has refused to back down from acknowledging that his assertion was incorrect. In fact, he's doubled down.
That was evident on Monday night, when Trump shared a debunked video from the far-right media outlet Breitbart, in which people claiming to be doctors assert that masks aren't necessary or useful and that a cure for the virus is already available.
One of the most prominently featured speakers in the clip Trump shared was Sylvia Immanuel, M.D.
Shortly after the video went viral, experts began looking into her past medical achievements, and her positions are unconventional to say the least. In her work with Fire Power Ministries, Immanuel claims that demons having sex with people in their sleep can cause certain ailments, that scientists use alien DNA in vaccines, and that certain members of the government are "reptilian."
Never one to admit he's wrong, the President attempted to defend his decision to retweet the video to CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins.
.@kaitlancollins: The woman you say is a 'great doctor' said masks don't work & doctors make medicine using DNA from aliens-
TRUMP: "I can tell you this: She was on air, along with many other doctors, & they were big fans of hydroxychloroquine. I thought she was very impressive" pic.twitter.com/nSui8DOLDL
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 28, 2020
When Collins pointed out Immanuel's questionable positions, Trump responded:
"I can tell you this: She was on air, along with many other doctors, and they were big fans of hydroxychloroquine, and I thought she was very impressive in the sense that—from where she came, I don't know which country she comes from—but she said that she's had tremendous success with hundreds of different patients and I thought her voice was an important voice, but I know nothing about her."
Trump attempted to answer another question, but Collins pointed out in a follow-up that the President said previously that masks do work, and she wanted to know why he would share a video that says they don't. That's when Trump abruptly left the briefing room rather than answer the followup.
People rolled their eyes.
He will always immediately believe and amplify what others say, so long as it agrees with his views or it's in praise of him.
— Juan Pablo Rojas (@elchapablo) July 29, 2020
Meanwhile, others praised Kaitlan Collins for not backing down.
The President maintains that he was impressed by Immanuel's words in the video.
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