Trump says VA study on hydroxychloroquine conducted with people who were ‘almost dead’

President once again breaks with a federal agency over a matter of science as Chuck Schumer accuses him of lying about taking antimalarial drug

Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed a Veterans Department study on hydroxychloroquine, which found the malaria drug that is unproven to prevent or treat coronavirus could lead to dangerous side effects, was conducted using patients who were "almost dead" and "in very bad shape."

The president, defying warnings from multiple federal health agencies, claims to be taking the medication as a Covid-19 prevention measure.

The Veterans Affairs study featured 368 patients in a number of VA hospitals, concluding there was "no evidence" the antimalarial drug lowered the patients' risk of death or needing a ventilator when they were given hydroxychloroquine in combination with any drug . What's more, those in the study who were treated with just hydroxychloroquine were more likely to pass away.

Using his unique vocabulary, he dubbed the VA study a "Trump enemy."

"I’ve worked with doctors," he said when asked after a lunch meeting with Senate Republicans why it is okay for him to take the drug despite warnings from the VA, Food and Drug Administration, and other federal health agencies.

"They were giving it to people who were in very bad shape," Mr Trump contended. "Almost dead."

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier on Tuesday accused the showman in chief of lying about taking the drug that he has pushed for months because "he likes to make a splash."

Vice President Mike Pence, whose press secretary recently tested positive for Covid-19, was asked at a separate event on Tuesday if he is taking the malaria drug. "I'm not," he responded before giving his boss some cover.

"But I would never begrudge any American taking the advice of their physician. Hydroxychloroquine is a drug that's been around for more than 40 years for treatment of malaria. But, early in this process, the FDA approved what's called off-label use, where physicians could prescribe hydroxychloroquine in terms they deemed appropriate," Mr Pence said. "So my physician has not recommended that, but I wouldn't hesitate to take the counsel of my doctor. Any American should do likewise."

Mr Trump's Monday revelation about the drug came minutes after, during an unrelated Monday event at the White House, he was pressed by reporters about firing the State Department's inspector general, whom congressional Democrats claim was conducting at least two investigations of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Mr Pompeo has become one of Mr Trump's favourite Cabinet members.

"You'd be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the front-line workers before you catch it. The front-line workers, many, many are taking it," the president contended on Monday.

"I happen to be taking it. I happen to be taking it," he said before admitting he made the announcement, in part, to see reporters' eyes "light up."

The president is "taking it" despite federal warnings of potential life-threatening side effects, including an irregular heartbeat. Mr Trump has a form of heart disease, according to the White House medical staff.

His White House aides later on Monday night released a memo from the top White House physician, Navy Commander Sean Conley, contending that Mr Trump began taking hydroxychloriquine after one of his military valets tested positive for Covid-19.

Mr Trump has pushed the medication for months. The New York Times has reported his family has a financial tie to one of the parent companies of one of the drug's manufacturers. The president denies is making any money off hydroxychloroquine.

Medical professionals have prescribed it mostly as a possible treatment drug. What Mr Trump and Commander Conley described, however, was a preventative prescription.

The Conley memo never stated he wrote a prescription for Mr Trump to obtain the controversial antimalarial medication.