PresidentĀ Donald Trump believes there is a drug that could treat those infected with the coronavirus and Attorney GeneralĀ William Barr is criticizing the media for their coverage of it.
Trump has continued to promote the use of an anti-malaria drug called hydroxychloroquine as a possible way to combat the coronavirus and doctors have been using it to treat patients without hard evidence that it works, as IJR previously reported.
Barr believes the mediaās angle became unfair as soon as Trump began speaking out about it.
āThe politicization of decisions like the hydroxychloroquine has been amazing to me,ā Barr said.
He added, āBefore the president said anything about it, there was fair and balanced coverage of this very promising drug. And the fact that it had such a long track record that the risks were pretty well known.ā
Watch his comments below:
Other experts have spoken out against Trump for his promotion of the drug, including Dr. Jonathan Reiner, former White House medical adviser, as IJR previously reported.
In reference to the drug, Trump asked, āWhat do you have to lose?ā
Reiner replied during Mondayās interview on CNN, āWhat you have to lose is your life from the drug.ā
Reiner also listed several questions healthcare providers are facing in treating patients with the drug, such as the proper dosage.
Trump even said that he would consider taking the drug.
āI may take it,ā Trump said during a press briefing. āIāll have to ask my doctors about that, but I may take it.ā
Trump tested negative for the coronavirus twice.
Barr continued to say that the media has continued to attack Trump for his promotion of the drug.
āAs soon as he said something positive about it, the mediaās been on a jihad to discredit the drug,ā Barr said. āItās quite strange.ā
Coronavirus cases continue to rise across the United States. As of Thursday morning, the United States is reporting more than 432,000 coronavirus cases and over 14,800 deaths.