Is Louie Gohmert faking Covid-19 to promote hydroxychloroquine? Internet says he's 'pretending for Trump'
Rep Louie Gohmert announced on Wednesday, July 29, that he would take hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug that experts have warned doesn't treat the coronavirus. This comes after he tested positive for the virus.
"My doctor and I are all in," Gohmert said about hydroxychloroquine during an interview with Fox News, according to Newsweek. "I got a text before I came on from a friend doctor who just found out he had it, and he started the regimen too — zinc and hydroxychloroquine. And that will start in a day or two, so thank you," he added. Gohmert was one of the many people who had opted against wearing the mask.
President Donald Trump has been hailing hydroxychloroquine as an effective treatment for the coronavirus and had retweeted a now-deleted video, where a physician claimed that it was not necessary to wear masks, and criticized studies showing that hydroxychloroquine is not effective for treating coronavirus infections, calling them “fake science.”
Gohmert's statements have drawn much flak from Internet users. "I wonder if Gohmert really has Covid. This could be a ploy to justify Hydroxychloroquine," one tweeted. Another social media user echoed this sentiment and tweeted, "Hot take: Louie Gohmert doesn’t have Covid-19 and is pretending he does for Trump. Announces he has it. Claims it wasn’t due to not wearing a mask, but because he WAS wearing one. Then immediately says he’s taking Hydroxychloroquine for treatment. Masks bad. Hydroxy good."
"What are the chances Gohmert fakes his diagnosis to promote hydroxychloroquine," one tweeted. Another called him a "rare form" of stupidity. "Don't worry about sending your loved ones to Baylor University, alumnus Louie Gohmert is a rare form of stupidity not representative of other Baylor graduates. Will he be following his hydroxychloroquine treatment with an equal amount of demon sperm?" They tweeted.
"Gohmert says he will take hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatment => Trying to cure stupidity with stupidity," another wrote. Meanwhile, a user took a neutral stand and wrote, "I wish Rep. Gohmert a full recovery and the wisdom to learn from his mistakes. His venture into hydroxychloroquine does not bode well for either of those outcomes."