White House press secretary says Trump was taken out of context when he suggested on live television that Americans could use disinfectant and light to treat the coronavirus

• White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany accused the media of taking President Donald Trump's comments on Thursday — when he suggested Americans inject disinfectant into their bodies to treat the coronavirus — out of context.
• "President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterdays' briefing," McEnany said in a statement.
• "Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines," she added.
• It's unclear what McEnany meant given that Trump's statements were broadcast in their entirety on live television. Insider has included a transcript of his remarks below.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Friday that the mainstream media took President Donald Trump's statements on Thursday — when he suggested Americans inject disinfectant into their bodies as a treatment for coronavirus — out of context to run negative stories.

"President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterdays' briefing," McEnany said in a statement. "Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines."

Here's what Trump said during Thursday's coronavirus briefing, which was aired on live television:

"I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it'd be interesting to check that. So you're going to have to use medical doctors with — but it sounds interesting to me."

And here's what he said about using different types of light to treat coronavirus, backing his musings up with the unproven theory that warmer weather could mitigate the effects of the virus:

"So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it's ultraviolet, or just very powerful — light. And I think you said that hasn't been checked, but you're going to test it. And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way. And I think you're going to test that, too ... But we'll see the whole concept with the light where it goes in in one minute, that's pretty powerful."

Trump pressed Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, on whether "the heat and the light" can help coronavirus patients.

"Not as a treatment," Birx said. "I mean, certainly, fever — is a good thing. When you have a fever, it helps your body respond. But not as — I've not seen heat or light."

Reckitt Benckiser, the British company that manufactures Lysol, put out a statement Friday disputing Trump's claim and warning against the "internal administration" of disinfectant.

"As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route)," the statement said, citing "recent speculation and social media activity."

"As with all products, our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines," the statement added. "Please read the label and safety information."

The American Cleaning Institute also put out its own press release Friday "in response to speculation about the use of disinfectants in or on one's body."

"Disinfectants are meant to kill germs or viruses on hard surfaces. Under no circumstances should they ever be used on one's skin, ingested or injected internally," the statement said. "We remind everyone to please use all hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting products as directed in order to ensure safe, effective and intended use of those products."

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