Fox News Goes Against Trump, Warns 'Risky Population' That Taking Hydroxychloroquine 'Will Kill You'

The strong pushback from several of Fox News' leading commentators about President Donald Trump's admission Monday that he has been taking hydroxychloroquine to prevent COVID-19 infection has POTUS yearning for the good old days under Roger Ailes, the former Fox News CEO who resigned in 2016 after being accused of sexual assaults by 23 women.

Neil Cavuto, Dr. Manny Alvarez and Juan Williams on Fox News programs criticized Trump for telling people in the United States he has been taking hydroxychloroquine since last week, thereby implying the prescription drug is safe to use even though medical studies prove it isn't.

It is still unclear why the White House physician, Dr. Sean Conley, administered hydroxychloroquine to Trump, in spite of evidence linking the drug to an increased risk of death from heart attack.

A study from the Veterans Administration (VA) released last month found the two primary outcomes for COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine were death and the need for mechanical ventilation.

Judging from his intense on-air reaction, Cavuto was alarmed by Trump's decision to take the drug, which the former contends might kill people.

"If you are in a risky population here, and you are taking this as a preventative treatment ... it will kill you," said Cavuto. "I cannot stress enough. This will kill you."

"So, whatever benefits the president says this has ... this is a leap that shouldn't be taken casually by those watching at home or assuming what the president of the United States says is OK."

He cited the VA study, stating those who were given the drug died. Cavuto again warned Americans that if they were part of a vulnerable population, taking hydroxychloroquine will kill them.

"Dr. Manny" Alvarez was stunned from his medical standpoint. He said all the data that's been coming out repetitively showed no major benefit from prescribing hydroxychloroquine, and added his hospital doesn't even use the drug.

Dr. Manny, the senior managing editor of Fox News' health news, said it's "highly irresponsible" of Trump to claim he's now taking hydroxychloroquine. He wanted Dr. Conley to explain what's changed in the past week or two since studies have shown no benefits from hydroxychloroquine.

Speaking on The Five on Monday, political analyst Juan Williams said, "Apparently the president believes his own spin cause you're not getting this (hydroxychloroquine's safety) from any government or academic authority."

Fox News political commentator Jesse Watters went into damage control mode for Trump, asserting Dr. Conley prescribed the drug to the president, to which Williams replied the physician said POTUS can take it but didn't "prescribe it."

By Monday evening, all this bashing from his favorite hosts on his favorite TV channel led Trump to tweet: "@FoxNews is no longer the same. We miss the great Roger Ailes. You have more anti-Trump people, by far, than ever before. Looking for a new outlet!"