Beyond continuing to be amazed at the fact that there are 182 countries on Earth – 152 have the virus – (he simply cannot believe there are so many countries, he repeats it every press conference), Trump continues to talk about the fact that we may not be “that far away” from the end when the models show that we are just barely beginning.
Trump was asked about his enthusiasm for the medicines, and Trump says that he wants people to live, and he continues to say “What do we have to lose,” and then says that the medicines do not kill people. Trump then says we do not have time to do real tests. Trump has two doctors on the stage and yet he is standing there talking about having nothing to lose, as though he’s never heard of side effects, then he denies that he’s not a doctor, but there are good signs.
Trump is going to get sued. I swear, if I had a client who died due to an adverse reaction from these medications who took them because Trump kept trumpeting them, I would sue Trump.
Pool report: "'We have stockpiled 29 million pills of the Hydroxychloroquine … And they're not expensive,' Trump says. 'What do you have to lose?' Fauci, seated at side of briefing room, is avoiding eye contact and could practicing a self-calming technique."
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 5, 2020 [1]
Trump is now justifying using the medication in instances when there are no other alternatives, the right to try – which is not what he’s been advocating. He has been advocating taking these medications even before someone tests positive, and then he’s talking about having some “unbelievable results,” – why doesn’t he publish the science.
A reporter confronted him about why he was promoting the drug. Trump says he isn’t promoting the drug, and then says he doesn’t want them studying it over a year (which isn’t happening). I want a reporter to ask straightforwardly, do you own any stock in the companies that make these medications. Trump follows with “Only CNN would ask that question.”
No – only a learned person would ask this question.
You know the expression…very strong powerful medicine…very good tests…we don’t have time…test tubes and laboratories…people dying today…it doesn’t kill people…vaccines…blargh…wargh…bloop…bleep.
Terrifying.
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) April 5, 2020 [2]
It is scary.
From a reporter who grew up near the president, isn’t fake news and has spent a lot of time researching the science behind the therapies > https://t.co/aKNiQHf9sQ [3]
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 5, 2020 [4]
Trump doesn’t know how medical trials work. He will not stop talking about the medicines, and I am starting to think it’s representing mental illness, combined with a financial stake, and so does half of Twitter. There are times things look like a miracle drug, and then studies show that while it looked like they save some people, and overall, across hundreds of thousands, the medications made outcomes worse:
Thank you to @ABC [5] @CBSNews [6] @NBCNews [7] and Fox for not broadcasting Trump’s propaganda session.
Shame on you @CNN [8] @MSNBC [9] for knowingly broadcasting lies and disinformation during a crisis!
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) April 5, 2020 [10]
I wholeheartedly agree. There is no excuse for broadcasting this bullshit. It is starting to make me angry.
We also finally got Dr. Fauci to the podium, where he tried to do some clean up for Trump:
Dr Fauci tries to do some cleanup on Trump's "light at the end of the tunnel" talking point by reminding people that the next two weeks are going to be bad and lots of people are going to die pic.twitter.com/mgHv9r5laY [11]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 6, 2020 [12]
However, when asked about Trump’s miracle cure of hydroxychloroquine, Trump wouldn’t let Fauci answer the question:
"I answered this 15 times. You don't have to answer." — Trump prevents Dr Fauci from answering a question about hydroxychloroquine pic.twitter.com/8R1K1hDsaX [13]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 6, 2020 [14]
****
Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom