Trump embarks on wild rant and references “sadists” at Veterans Affairs when asked for proof hydroxychloroquine works
President Trump stunned the nation this afternoon when he casually announced at a press conference that he was taking the drug hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure against COVID-19, despite there being no evidence that it actually prevents or treats the virus.
“I happen to be taking it. A lot of good things have come out. You’d be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the front-line workers. Before you catch it. The front-line workers, many, many are taking it…I’m taking it, hydroxychloroquine. Right now, yeah. Couple of weeks ago, I started taking it. Cause I think it’s good, I’ve heard a lot of good stories” said the President.
Where he has heard these “good stories” is unclear, because there is no evidence that hydroxychloroquine works to treat or prevent COVID-19 in any way shape or form; to the contrary, a study done in Brazil was halted after patients given the drug developed arrhythmia and died.
But the president remains unphased by such petty concerns like “facts” and “peer-reviewed scientific studies.” When challenged to provide evidence of why people should take hydroxychloroquine, Trump claimed that his evidence was “he got a lot of calls about it” before disparaging a study done by the Veterans Affairs Department because it was done by “people who don’t like Trump.”
He then launched into a lengthy discussion of all the things he’s done for the VA, which included taking credit for the VA Choice Act (passed in 2014 by President Obama) and describing how thanks to him, all the “sadists” who worked at the VA “beating up veterans” were fired. He ended his rambles with “what do you have to lose?”
.@jeffmason1: What is the evidence that hydroxychloroquine has a preventative impact?
TRUMP: "Are you ready? Here's my evidence — I get a lot of positive calls about it … what do you have to lose?" pic.twitter.com/51b967dypu
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 18, 2020
All you have to lose is your normal heart rhythm…but considering the president’s love for Big Macs and Diet Coke, it’s not like he was too concerned about that in the first place!
