For months, President Donald Trump has lauded the so-called effectiveness of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential cure for the virus that's killed over 90 thousand Americans. This is despite a severe lack of evidence.
As a result, doctors have begun increasingly prescribing the drug, resulting in a shortage for those who actually need it. At least one person has died after mistaking an ingredient for aquarium cleaner as the drug touted by Trump, subsequently ingesting it.
The President upped the ante in regards to his public support for the drug on Monday, claiming that he himself has been taking the drug for a week and a half, indicating that he believed the drug to be preventative too.
Watch below.
Saying he had the approval of the White House doctor, Trump said:
"Many, may are taking it. I happen to be taking it. I happen to be taking it. Hydroxychloroquine. Right now, yeah. A couple a weeks ago, I started taking it. Cause I think it's good, I've heard a lot of good stories."
Reporters were astonished at the President's claim, including Fox News host Neil Cavuto, who warned his largely conservative viewers not to act on Trump's claim.
Watch below.
Cavuto cited numerous studies that indicated hydroxychloroquine has no effect in fighting and preventing the virus, and for more vulnerable groups, can even be deadly.
He warned:
"If you are in a risky population here and you are taking this as a preventative treatment to ward off the virus...it will kill you. I cannot stress enough. This will kill you. So, again, whatever benefits the President says this has—and it certainly has had for those suffered with malaria or lupus—this is a leap that should not be taken casually by those watching at home or assuming, 'Well, the President of the United States says it's okay.'"
Being an anchor on Fox News in a time where the President has politicized safety measures, Cavuto had to put a caveat on his warning:
"I only make this, not to make a political point here, but a life and death point: be very, very careful."
People were stunned, but relieved, that Trump's claims weren't going unquestioned even by the Conservative Fox News, especially since some Fox hosts have been praising the drug for weeks..
What's more, given the severe side effects of the drug, few believe Trump is actually even taking it.
Yeah right, Donald.
For more information on the Trump administration's ineptitude, check out A Very Stable Genius, available here.
