Trump claims he's been taking hydroxychloroquine because he 'heard a lot of good stories'

In a startling revelation, president Trump told reporters that he's been taking hydroxychloroquine for weeks despite testing negative, suggesting that the malaria medication could be used to prevent Covid-19.

Trump has long touted the medication as a way to treat or prevent coronavirus, even though experts have repeatedly warned that there's no evidence that it works and it could actually be dangerous.

A lot of good things have come out about the hydroxy... a lot of good things have come out. You'd be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the frontline workers... before you catch it. The frontline workers... many many are taking it. I happen to be taking it. I happen to be taking it.

At this point there's a collective gasp and murmur from the crowd of reporters, and he continues.

I'm taking it! Hydroxychloroquine. Right now, yeah, a couple of weeks ago I started taking it.

He was asked the obvious question: why?! To which he replied:

Because I think it's good! I've heard a lot of good stories. And if it's not good, I'll tell you right... I'm not gonna get hurt by it. It's been around for 40 years for malaria, for lupus, for other things... I take it. Frontline workers take it. A lot of doctors take it. I take it... I hope to not be able to take it soon, because, you know, I hope they come up with some answer...

The president said he takes a pill every day and has "zero symptoms", which makes sense as he's tested negative for Covid-19.

Last month, the FDA warned that there are "known risks associated with both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine", and that there are reports that patients who are being treated with it are suffering "serious heart rhythm problems".

It added that while the drugs are being trialled as a potential treatment for Covid-19, they "have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing" the virus.

In March, an Arizona man died after taking a household cleaning product because it contained chloroquine. His wife said they did so after seeing the president talk on TV about how it was a cure.

Last month it was revealed that Trump could have financial interests in the medication.