[WashingtonExaminer] Attorney General William Barr claimed news coverage of an anti-malaria drug that has shown early signs of being able to treat the coronavirus became partisan once the president endorsed its usage.President Trump has touted the use of hydroxychloroquine as a potential "game changer" in the fight to contain the virus, while scientists, including some who are working with the administration's response team, have been less optimistic about it.
During an interview with Fox News's Laura Ingraham that aired Wednesday night, Barr claimed that the media launched a crusade against the drug only after the president began recommending its use and dissemination.
"Before the president said anything about it, there was fair and balanced coverage of this very promising drug and the fact that it had such a long track record that the risks were pretty well-known, and as soon as he said something positive about it, the media has been on a jihad to discredit the drug. It’s quite strange," he explained. "The stridency of the partisan attacks on him has gotten higher and higher, and it’s gotten disappointing to see."
The attorney general also praised Trump's handling of the pandemic, labeling his efforts early on as "statesmanlike," while accusing the White House press corps of asking "snarky gotcha questions."
The president began touting the drug last month after a flawed study conducted in France showed promising results. His first reference to the drug came a day after the results of the study were aired on Fox News.
At a White House coronavirus task force briefing last weekend, Trump announced the administration had purchased "a tremendous amount" of hydroxychloroquine, which will be distributed to the states after the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency approval for its use among coronavirus patients.
A day earlier, however, White House economic adviser Peter Navarro got into a "confrontation" with National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci over the drug. Fauci has repeatedly downplayed its potential for success, noting there is no "strong" evidence that it can treat COVID-19.
| Courtesy of Anomalous Sources: |
[GatewayPundit] Link to William "Cheshire Cat" Barr HERE. If impatient, go to 0:50.
But, if even more impatient, here's a still - and you don't hear the annoying laughter:
