‘First president assassinated by his own IQ’: Twitter mocks Trump claim he’s taking hydroxychloroquine

05/19/2020 9:17 am ET • Nellie English

Screenshot of Trump with hydroxy...chlor... written across the screen

Screenshot / YouTube

The President announced Monday that he is taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative treatment against COVID-19. The anti-malarial drug may have dangerous side effects including causing critical heart problems.

At Trump’s announcement, Twitter nearly had a heart attack itself.

US President Donald Trump says he is taking the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to ward off coronavirus, despite public health officials warning it may be unsafehttps://t.co/MJcLAhelCb pic.twitter.com/9zwUb8zNP8

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 19, 2020

First came the memes

Flickr

As can be expected, Twitter brought the memes.

This comment wins the Internet today @JimMFelton pic.twitter.com/9ChZyByJia

— Chris (@ulster_exile) May 18, 2020

Don’t trust this dude 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/o8jlRxt55x

— anacupeles (@parisiswaiting) May 18, 2020

Then there was outrage

Canva

The reaction on social media included outrage that the President would encourage the public to take an unproven medication with dangerous side effects.

Trump says he’s been taking #Hydroxychloroquine for almost 2 wks. Don’t do as Trump does or suggests. Any disinfectant, like bleach or Lysol, & ultraviolet light are not remedies. His unhinged notions could cause your death. He’d just say you sacrificed your life for the economy!

— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) May 19, 2020

By touting a risky drug, the President is not only endangering their health but also limiting the supply of hydroxychloroquine for those who actually need it, like people suffering from Lupus disease.

I wonder if those of us who NEED to take #hydroxycholoroquine for autoimmune diseases like #SjogrensSyndrome, #Lupus, or severe #RheumatoidArthritis can sue @realDonaldTrump for recklessly and ignorantly ignoring #science and necessary trials, endangering everyone in the process?

— Lauren-Miranda Gilbert (@LaurenMiranda37) April 6, 2020

Fox News has a say…

Canva / Fox News

Trump went too far even for long-time sounding board Fox News, who criticized the “highly irresponsible” move:

“Dr. Manny Alvarez, the senior managing editor for #FoxNews’s health news, said on air that the #Trump’s statement was “highly irresponsible” and asked what had changed since studies showed the drug had no benefits”. https://t.co/SYdjfYsqiL

— David Schreck (@StrategicThghts) May 19, 2020

“I cannot stress this enough,” warned Neil Cavuto of Fox News, “this will kill you.”

…and Pelosi

Flickr / Gage Skidmore

Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives, went even further. She cautioned that the President shouldn’t take hydroxychloroquine because he is “morbidly obese.”

Ouch.

Nancy 👠
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is sure to set off Trump tonight. She said she’s worried that he shouldn’t be taking that drug due to his age group and his weight, slipping in that he’s “morbidly obese.” #MorbidlyObese pic.twitter.com/AK3m53TbjA

— Jean Podrasky 🏡 (@JeanPodrasky) May 19, 2020

There was also suspicion

Trump with a confused expression on his face

Screenshot / YouTube

There was also much speculation that the President was NOT taking hydroxychloroquine. Firstly, he contradicted himself in his announcement, claiming he “had been taking it for weeks”, then in the next sentence, he said, “I’d take it.”

Which is it, Mr. President?

Donald trump:”I’ve been taking hydroxy chloroquine for past 2 weeks (sentence later “I’ve been taking it past week and a half”,then he slipped up and said “I’d take it If it were me,if you asked me that a few days ago I would have told you I’m taking it”are you telling porkies 😏 pic.twitter.com/OhLBvpJPyh

— Jay (@Jumpingjack6t9) May 19, 2020

Could he have a vested interest in public support for the drug, given that his family has invested heavily in hydroxychloroquine?

The French Connection: Trump Family Trusts Are Invested in Hydroxychloroquine Maker https://t.co/cABcwVX8mJ

— Julie English (@Speak4Voiceless) May 19, 2020

The doctor disagrees

Pixabay

A letter from the White House physician that treats the President makes no mention of him actually taking the drug.

UPDATE: White House doctor’s note. pic.twitter.com/3BIjARv7oV

— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) May 19, 2020

Is the President trying to distract us?

Kremlin

Now that we are all talking about hydroxychloroquine, what has the media shifted their attention away from? Twitter has a theory:

Sounds like someone’s trying to seize the news cycle away from the Pompeo scandal.

— Michael R. Kramer (@michaelkramerSB) May 18, 2020

Nothing to see here…. pic.twitter.com/j95fktOGvf

— Alex (@Fix8d2020) May 19, 2020

Yes, the President of the United States taking a dangerous drug that has not been approved by the FDA is shocking news.

Don’t let it distract you from the fact Congress has 30 days to reverse Trump’s attempt to silence Inspector General Linick, the links between the President’s family and China, and the administration’s botched handling of the unemployment crisis.