Trump Says He's Taking Unproven Anti-Malarial Drug Despite FDA Warning of Serious Side Effects

While downplaying the impact of the coronavirus and congratulating his administration's response to the pandemic, Trump has been criticized by health experts for promoting untested and unfounded cures for the coronavirus over the last two months.

In April, Trump suggested federal health officials should research whether injecting disinfectants and heat into the human body could kill the virus.

Dr. Deborah Birx, the Trump administration's coronavirus task force coordinator, told the president in front of reporters that she hasn't heard of those methods being used "as a treatment" for the virus.

When reporters suggested to Trump that his public musings on a cure for the coronavirus could be dangerous, Trump became defensive. "I’m just here to present talent," he said. "I’m just here to present ideas because we want ideas to get rid of this thing.”

The president's revelation that he's taking hydroxychloroquine shocked reporters, who immediately questioned the president to confirm he's taking the drug.

Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto expressed his shock immediately after Trump's announcement, citing the VA study that shows an increase in mortality rates among those who took the drug.

"If you are in a risky population here and you are taking this as a preventative treatment to ward off the virus or in a worst-case scenario you are dealing with the virus and you are in this vulnerable population, it will kill you," the Fox News anchor told viewers. "I cannot stress enough. This will kill you."

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