By: Rashmi S
May 12 2020
Misleading: President Trump suggested drinking and injecting disinfectant to kill the coronavirus.
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Fact-Check
The Verdict Misleading
Donald Trump has clarified that his suggestion made on 23 April 2020 about ingesting disinfectants was not serious and that he did not encourage it.
Claim ID 2b74c7ee
Donald Trump has clarified that his suggestion made on 23 April 2020 about ingesting disinfectants was not serious and that he did not encourage it. According to the MSNBC coverage of President Trump's coronavirus press briefing held on 23 April 2020, he commented that disinfectants could kill the virus if they are injected into the lungs. He said that after a White House official had spoken about how commonly available disinfectants (bleach and isopropyl alcohol) could kill the virus within five minutes. As per the White House briefing statements of 24 April 2020, reporters asked President Trump about his previous day's comment on disinfectants. Responding to the questions, he clarified that his question about the possibility of people being injected with disinfectant as a coronavirus treatment was sarcastic. He also said that he did not encourage the injection of disinfectants. As per the Reuters article, international doctors and health experts had already urged people not to drink or inject disinfectant after Trump's 23 April suggestion before his clarification on the next day. Donald Trump's statement made on 23 April 2020 was not an encouragement to ingest disinfectant into the body in any manner. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.