For the second day in a row, the liberal media were obsessed with President Trump’s decision to start taking hydroxychloroquine to possibly prevent coronavirus as a medication he obtained with a prescription from his doctor. Tuesday’s evening newscasts saw ABC’s World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News continued their meltdown from the previous night, with the later boosting Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for attacking the President as “morbidly obese.”
CBS Evening News likely would have joined them, but unfortunately, some sort of major technical problem forced the newscast not to air on the East Coast.
But on NBC, anchor Lester Holt began the segment by declaring: “Under intense criticism, President Trump today defended his decision to take hydroxychloroquine, brushing aside potentially serious side effects.” Of course, the likelihood of suffering those side effects were rare, but the liberal media preferred to steer of that fact.
In the midst of the pearl-clutching, NBC White House correspondent Kristen Welker boosted Pelosi’s shot at the President:
WELKER: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reacting.
PELOSI [on CNN's AC360, 05/18/20]: I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists, especially in his age group and in his shall we say, weight group, what is, morbidly obese they say.
(…)
PELOSI: I didn't know that he would be so sensitive. He's always talking about other people's weight, their pounds. [SCREEN WIPE] His words weigh a ton.
There was absolutely no reason for them to include her snide remarks. She’s not a medical professional nor a health care expert, and the liberal media’s entire argument against Trump on the matter was that he wasn’t listening to scientists. The only reason they included it was because they adore her.
While she was wrapping up the segment, Welker admitted that “the FDA reiterated: ‘the decision to take any drug is ultimately one between a patient and their doctor.’” Which, of course, happened between Trump and the White House doctor.
For ABC’s part, anchor David Muir framed the situation as the President being put on his heels. “Meantime tonight, with so many Americans now asking about hydroxychloroquine and the President, after President Trump said he is taking it. The President tonight is now defending the move. And if he's taking it, what about the Vice President? What he's now saying tonight,” he proclaimed.
And while ABC senior White House correspondent Cecilia Vega kept harping on the potential side effects, she admitted that the White House doctor was fine with it. “Still, the White House released a statement from the President's own doctor saying, quote, ‘After numerous discussions, we concluded the potential benefit from the treatment outweighed the relative risks,’” she huffed.
Welker failed to mention that Trump’s doctor had put out a statement. She was more interested in sharing Pelosi’s snark.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
May 19, 2020
6:36:54 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: Meantime tonight, with so many Americans now asking about hydroxychloroquine and the President, after President Trump said he is taking it. The President tonight is now defending the move. And if he's taking it, what about the Vice President? What he's now saying tonight. And here's ABC’s senior White House correspondent Cecilia Vega.
[Cuts to video]
CECILIA VEGA: Arriving at the White House today, coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx ignored the question.
(…)
VEGA: That, after President Trump's surprise announcement he's taking the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure against COVID-19.
(…)
VEGA: The drug has not been proven effective against the coronavirus, but on Capitol Hill today, the President refused to back down.
(…)
VEGA: But the FDA has explicitly warned against using hydroxychloroquine for COVID treatment outside hospitals or clinical trials. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Joseph Rahimian tells us it could have dangerous side effects.
DR. JOSEPH RAHIMIAN: However, there is a potential for cardiac abnormalities, abnormal heart rhythm, eye issues, retinopathy, and those are all possible with its use.
(…)
VEGA: Still, the White House released a statement from the President's own doctor saying, quote, "After numerous discussions, we concluded the potential benefit from the treatment outweighed the relative risks."
One of the President's valets tested positive. So did the Vice President's press secretary. But Pence says hydroxychloroquine is not for him.
VP MIKE PENCE: My physician has not recommended that, but I wouldn't hesitate to take the counsel of my doctor. Any American should do likewise.
VEGA: Later during a cabinet meeting, the president defended his decision.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I'm just talking about it as a line of defense. I'm dealing with a lot of people. Look at all the people in the room. You know, I'm the president, and I'm dealing with a lot of people.
VEGA: Calling on his Health and Human Services secretary to back him up.
SEC. ALEX AZAR (HHS): We're still working on some controlled studies earlier in the disease progression to see if we can measure the effectiveness of it in preventing the replication of the virus and spread in mild to moderate cases, rather than in the more serious, and that data is still pending. But--
TRUMP: And it’s got – well it’s got very good reviews, very good from many, many doctors.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: The President jumping in there. Cecilia, with us tonight. And President Trump today, Cecilia, acknowledging that he actually decided to take hydroxychloroquine after his own personal valet, who served him meals and cokes, and the Vice President's press secretary both tested positive for the virus?
VEGA: Yeah, David. He says that he was in close proximity with both of those people so this seemed like the right time to start taking this drug. But look, he’s now really laying out his defense on why he's decided to take it. He says he's feeling no side effect.
And frankly, he says he believes hydroxychloroquine has become politicized because he's the one whose been endorsing it. But David, you heard those doctors, you’ve heard that warning from the FDA. And they warn about the dangers -- the potential dangers of this drug.
MUIR: That’s right, the President said it was individual choice on his part. So please, check with your own doctor. Cecilia, thank you.
NBC Nightly News
May 19, 2020
7:06:22 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Under intense criticism, President Trump today defended his decision to take hydroxychloroquine, brushing aside potentially serious side effects. Kristen Welker has these details.
[Cuts to video]
KRISTEN WELKER: Tonight, President Trump increasingly defiant about his decision to take the controversial anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, despite no evidence yet that it prevents coronavirus.
(…)
WELKER: The FDA has warned against using hydroxychloroquine outside of a hospital setting due to a risk of serious heart problems and in some cases even death. And similar findings in another study funded by the University of Virginia and the NIH, which used data from patients at veterans’ medical centers. A study, which the President attacked today.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: They were giving it to people that were in very bad shape, they were very old, almost dead, it was a Trump-enemy statement.
WELKER: The President's stunning revelation Monday surprised even some of his own top advisers.
(…)
WELKER: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reacting.
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists, especially in his age group and in his shall we say, weight group, what is, morbidly obese they say.
WELKER: Sparking a bitter back and forth today.
TRUMP: Oh, I don't respond to her. I think she's a waste of time. [Transition} Pelosi is a sick woman. She's got a lot of problems, a lot of mental problems.
PELOSI: I didn't know that he would be so sensitive. He's always talking about other people's weight, their pounds. [Transition] His words weigh a ton.
WELKER: And the President revealing he started to take the drug after one of his staffers tested positive for the virus.
TRUMP: A very nice, young gentleman he tested positive.
WELKER: Meantime, the Vice President, whose press secretary tested positive, said he is not taking hydroxychloroquine.
VP MIKE PENCE: My physician has not recommended that, but I wouldn’t hesitate to take the counsel of my doctor. Any American should do likewise.
WELKER: NBC's Dr. John Torres.
DR. JOHN TORRES: Don't listen to other people when they tell you to take medicines like this. Because, again, the benefit might not be there, but the harm certainly could.
[Cuts back to live]
WELKER: And in a statement tonight, the FDA reiterated: “the decision to take any drug is ultimately one between a patient and their doctor.” Lester?
HOLT: Kristen Welker at the White House, thank you.
