During a roundtable with restaurant executives and industry leaders today at The White House, President Trump disclosed that he is taking hydroxychloroquine in tandem with zinc.
"I'm taking the two: the zinc and the hydroxy ... Maybe it has an impact. And we'll see, maybe it does and maybe it doesn't. This is a pill that's been used for a long time so it's been heavily tested. ... I was just waiting to see your eyes light up when I said this. I've been taking it for around a week and a half," Trump told the press.
Trump is taking hydroxychloroquine pic.twitter.com/K7cMhegn7r
— libby emmons (@li88yinc) May 18, 2020
Trump noted that he has been taking the pill every day for a week and a half, and that his taking the combination, coronavirus treatment, as have many frontline medical workers. When asked as to what the evidence was that the treatment is effective, he mentioned that he had been receiving reports from doctors who have found that their patients who took the drug combination have recovered.
"I want the people of this nation to feel good. I don't want them being sick. And there's a very good chance this has an impact, very early on," Trump said. pic.twitter.com/g8K7wbs4YR
— libby emmons (@li88yinc) May 18, 2020
"I just want to be open with the American public," he said.
Hydroxychloroquine has been a controversial treatment since President Trump brought it up early on in the pandemic. As soon as Trump mentioned it, the treatment was maligned in the press. Despite this, Trump has continued to advocate for the treatment.
Doctors have released their own anecdotal evidence of the drug's efficacy. Additionally, a study came out of France about the usefulness of the drug as a viable treatment.
That Trump is taking the drug is a new development. He has tested negative for coronavirus several times.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.