White House economic adviser Peter Navarro wants a “second opinion” on the anti-malaria drug that has shown some signs of effectiveness in treating coronavirus patients.
Navarro, who supports the widespread distribution of hydroxychloroquine, was asked Monday to respond to an Axios report that said he got into a confrontation with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, who insists there is no “strong” evidence that the drug can treat the coronavirus.
In particular, Navarro was asked on CNN’s New Day why the public should listen to him instead of the top infectious disease expert in the nation.
“I’ll let him speak for himself, John, but I would have two words for you: second opinion,” he said. “And in terms of the studies that exist, I think you would grant me that there are numerous studies on this, which show preliminary therapeutics.”
“Let me suggest, John, that later in the day, you have William Grace on, another famous doctor in the city of New York,” Navarro responded after anchor John Berman asked him what qualifications he has to discuss the drug. “He has, he can talk eloquently about this. But John, doctors disagree about things all the time. My qualifications in terms of looking at the science is that I’m a social scientist. I have a Ph.D., and I understand how to read statistical studies, whether it’s in medicine, the law, economics, or whatever.”
Berman argued what Navarro said does not “qualify you to treat patients.”
At a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Sunday, President 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. The president has touted the drug as a possible treatment to the coronavirus, despite a lack of evidence.
“We have it stockpiled — about 29 million doses. We have a lot of it. We hope it works,” Trump said.
