Fact Check: Did Trump Recommend "Drinking Bleach" to Treat COVID-19?
Claim: Trump recommended "drinking bleach" as a treatment for COVID-19.
Rating: False
Explanation: The claim that President Trump recommended drinking bleach is a misrepresentation of his comments during a press briefing on April 23, 2020. Trump suggested exploring disinfectants and light as potential treatments for COVID-19, but he did not specifically endorse or recommend drinking bleach.
Trump's remarks were speculative and discussed the possibility of using disinfectants in a theoretical, experimental context, particularly exploring how UV light or disinfectants could affect the virus. He mentioned, "Suppose we hit the body with a tremendous – whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light," and speculated about bringing light inside the body, but he did not say or imply that people should drink bleach.
The claim distorts his words, focusing on a misinterpretation of his broader, hypothetical statement.
Supporting Evidence:
- Trump’s Words: In the briefing, Trump did not directly advise anyone to drink bleach or any disinfectant. His comments about disinfectants were part of a broader, speculative discussion on potential treatments, with no endorsement of ingestion.
- Context of the Comments: Trump’s reference to disinfectants was not about ingesting them but about research into how disinfectants and light might be used to treat the virus.
Conclusion: The claim that President Trump recommended drinking bleach is false. He did not suggest ingesting disinfectants; his comments were taken out of context and misrepresented.