House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has slammed President Trump's decision to take unapproved drugs as a preventative measure for the novel coronavirus.
On Monday, 73-year-old Trump told reporters that he was taking hydroxychloroquine in pill form, and has allegedly had "zero symptoms. "I happen to be taking it. I happen to be taking it — hydroxychloroquine," he said, adding that he started using it "a couple of weeks ago".
"If it is not good, I will tell you right [...] I'm not going to get hurt by it. It has been around for 40 years for malaria, for lupus, for other things. I take it," he continued, detailing that he has been taking the pill "every day".
Following the president's controversial remarks, Pelosi appeared on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 where she denounced his decision, echoing research that shows that the anti-malarial drug has proved ineffective, and is linked to a higher death rate.
Health experts, including the head of the Food and Drug Administration, have warned that the drug needs to undergo trials to see if it could work against COVID-19.
"He's our president and I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists," she said. "Especially in his age group and his, shall we say, weight group: 'morbidly obese,' they say."
The House Speaker added, "I think it's not a good idea."
Last year, Trump's annual physical revealed that he weighed 243 pounds - a figure that is considered obese on the body mass index scale. At that time, his BMI stood at 30.4.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a BMI of 40 or above is considered morbidly obese.
Additionally, those with a BMI of 40 or higher are more vulnerable to catch COVID-19, the CDC has asserted.
Watch as Nancy Pelosi tears up Trump's State Of The Union address
.jpg_02LPZi?tr=h-184)
