President Trump rebuked an NBC News reporter who asked him what he would say to “scared” Americans during a coronavirus press briefing at the White House on Friday.
Trump called NBC News’ Peter Alexander “a terrible reporter” after he asked the president to calm Americans who were scared of catching the coronavirus.
“I’d say that you’re a terrible reporter. That’s what I’d say,” Trump responded. “I think it’s a very nasty question and I think it’s a very bad signal that you’re putting out to the American people. The American people are looking for answers and they’re looking for hope, and you’re doing sensationalism…” said Trump.
When Alexander tried to get a word in, Trump cut him off and scolded the reporter for sensationalizing the news.. “Let me just tell you something, that’s really bad reporting. And you ought to get back to reporting instead of sensationalism.”
The verbal exchange came after Trump touted a malaria drug as a coronavirus “cure” — a treatment that top government scientists have said is not proven or tested yet.
The antimalarial drug Chloroquine was administered to people infected with Covid-19 with good results.
Chloroquine was administered to AIDS patients in the 1990s and it was also given to patients during the SARS outbreak a decade later.
Chloroquine works by limiting the virus’ capability to replicate itself inside the human cell. But it is not a cure and the harsh side effects means it’s not for everyone.
