A lot of people, critics and experts alike, reacted on President Donald Trump's revelation that he is taking the malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine, to avoid the risk of having COVID-19. As a study showed that the drug was not an effective coronavirus treatment, the United States leader claimed it was an "enemy statement" made against him. But, is he really taking the drug?
Donald Trump believed that hydroxychloroquine was given to people who were severely affected by the COVID-19. Hence, it looks like he will continue to take this medication and seems to urge everyone to follow suit--if he really does so.
According to SBS News, Melania Trump's husband told the reporters during a visit to the U.S. Capitol that hydroxychloroquine gave people "additional level of safety," although without evidence. Anyhow, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration already warned the potential risk of giving this drug to COVID-19 patients.
Vice President Mike Pence earlier confirmed that he is not taking this drug, although his press secretary has contracted the disease. He even said that he would never resent anyone to follow the advice of someone else's physician. FDA had approved "off-label" use of the controversial medication if prescribed by the physician, but his doctors never recommended that.
Donald Trump has been promoting the use of hydroxychloroquine as a possible treatment for COVID-19. He based his claim on the positive report about its use against the virus.
However, there are subsequent studies that say otherwise. Regarding the risks, White House physician Sean Conley said in a memo that its potential benefits outweighed the dangers of its side effects.
Whatever the case is, Sam Nunberg, Donald Trump's former political adviser, revealed that his former client would do everything to prove he was right, especially when a lot of people think he was wrong, Politico noted. His former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci also explained that Donald felt the need to tell people he was taking hydroxy to prove it was working.
Former Trump publicist Alan Marcus also explained that as the former television personality was well aware that people believed the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine. So, as a real pitchman, he would just say what they wanted to hear.
Donald Trump earlier said that the drug had been used for a long time to treat malaria, lupus, and arthritis, and it would never make a patient sicker or even die. As he has been taking it for a week or so, he said that he is still alive.
However, people who genuinely know him through the years do not think he is telling the truth. Res, the former executive vice president, said Donald Trump would never let himself to be the subject of any potential harm.
So, he might have only said that he is taking the drug to make everyone think that he is right all along. Trump biographer Tim O'Brien also added that Donald Trump only wanted everyone to get distracted and to show that he is in control of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy.
