President Donald Trump says contracting COVID-19 was a “blessing” because he discovered a therapy for the virus that he believes has the potential to help millions of Americans recover.
In a video shared on Twitter, Trump touted the therapeutics that have been developed to help combat COVID-19 — which he said he views as cures.
He said, “For me, I walked in. I didn’t feel good. A short 24 hours later, I was feeling great … and that’s what I want for everybody. I want everybody to be given the same treatment as your president. Because I feel great, I feel like perfect.”
Trump tested positive for COVID-19 last Friday and was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for the weekend. As part of his treatment, the president was administered an experimental drug cocktail of antibodies developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
“So, I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it. This was a blessing in disguise. I caught it. I heard about this drug. I said, ‘Let me take it,” Trump said.
Watch the video below:
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT! pic.twitter.com/uhLIcknAjT
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020
On Wednesday, White House physician Dr. Sean Conley reported that Trump’s bloodwork revealed the presence of COVID-19 antibodies. Regeneron said it is possible those antibodies developed as a result of its therapy.
While Trump touted the therapy and said he believed it was “the key” to his recovery, it has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not available for the average American. However, Trump says he wants to make it free and available to coronavirus patients.
“I want to get for you what I got. And I’m going to make it free, you’re not going to pay for it. It wasn’t your fault that this happened, it was China’s fault,” Trump said.
He also said he has an Emergency Use Authorization “ready to go,” but it still has to be approved by the FDA.
Trump also said the military would be distributing the drug to hospitals.
On Monday, Trump announced that he would be leaving Walter Reed to go back to the hospital and said he was “feeling really good!”
“Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!” he added.
And on Wednesday, Conley said Trump had not exhibited symptoms of the virus in more than 24 hours.
Trump also returned to the Oval Office to resume work just six days after he tested positive for the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website says most Americans can leave isolation “10 days after symptom onset.”
