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| Donald Trump, White House photo |
Using this bizarre video to defend his long-standing advocacy of hydroxychloroquine, Trump used three classic propaganda tricks:
1. He created the impression that there is a major scientific controversy when there isn’t one.
2. He also implied that his opponents are politicizing hydroxychloroquine.
3. Finally, he continued his long-standing attitude that expert opinions aren’t really worth much.
Hydroxychloroquine, a commonly prescribed malaria drug, has, the FDA notes, proven to be ineffective for treating coronavirus, regardless of whether it is or is not combined with azithromycin.
Nevertheless, hydroxychloroquine has, just like a zombie, come back from the dead. That’s not because evidence has suddenly shown that it works. No, instead, the mighty forces of propaganda, financed by gobs of dark money, and promoted (sigh, once again) by President Donald Trump, have brought quack medicine back to our national consciousness.
Let's go back to the video. Apparently sponsored by a dark money Tea Party group, the video features Texas physician Stella Immanuel claiming that she can cure coronavirus with hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and azithromycin. Very unlikely. FactCheck notes that “the current scientific evidence doesn’t support the conclusion that hydroxychloroquine is effective in treating the disease.”
Alas - after his prepared remarks today, President Trump answered a reporter’s question:
“Q Mr. President, two questions quickly. First, can you clarify your position on the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine after you retweeted a video making claims that it is effective?
“THE PRESIDENT: Well, that was — I wasn’t making claims. The — it’s recommendations of many other peoples and — people, including doctors. Many doctors think it is extremely successful — the hydroxychloroquine — coupled with the zinc and perhaps the azithromycin. But many doctors think it’s extremely good, and some people don’t. Some people — I think it’s become very political.
I happen to believe in it. I would take it. As you know, I took it for a 14-day period, and I’m here. Right? I’m here. I happen to think it’s — it works in the early stages. I think frontline medical people believe that too — some, many. And so we’ll take a look at it.” [boldface added]
Let's parse this statement. Although the president’s claim that hydroxychloroquine treats the coronavirus is scientifically discredited, Trump evaded science with several crafty persuasive moves.
First, using conservative conspiracy theorists’ classic move, Trump tried to make out that there was a major scientific controversy about the drug: “But many doctors think it’s extremely good, and some people don’t.” Okay. Some doctors think that antibiotics are good for sinus infections, while others don’t. Some people think that Pluto is a planet; others don't. Those are real controversies. But, as I noted above, prominent infectious disease experts generally do not think that hydroxychloroquine treats the coronavirus. Trump was able to find a shadowy physician sponsored by the Tea Party movement to endorse his points. This lets him pretend that there’s a significant scientific controversy.
Earlier: Jay Sekulow at the Impeachment Trial, Why Are Conspiracy Theories Persuasive?
Second, Trump said that: “But many doctors think it’s extremely good, and some people don’t. Some people — I think it’s become very political.” His claim that “it’s become very political” gave the impression that his political enemies are making it political. But the source he cites, Dr. Immanuel, seems to be affiliated with the Tea Party. In Business Insider, Tom Porter writes that Dr. Immanuel's group is involved with the Tea Party Patriots, who have "raised $24 million to support Republican Candidates and causes since 2014." So, she and President Trump, and not Trump’s opponents, are the ones who are politicizing medical science. Trump created the misimpression by careful phrasing: “it’s become very political.” He didn’t say “Democrats are making this political,” which would be factually incorrect and absurd. He couldn’t say, “I am making this political,” which would give away his game. So, he said “it’s become very political.” Sneaky. Tricky. But persuasive.
Third, there is the view that everyone’s opinion is as good as everyone else’s. Recall that Trump said: “I happen to believe in it. I would take it. As you know, I took it for a 14-day period, and I’m here. Right? I’m here.” Yes, sure, people like Dr. Anthony Fauci went to college for years and then spent many more years engaged in scientific research. But why should their medical opinion count more than President Trump’s? Why should Dr. Fauci’s opinion count more than that of an obscure physician from a small clinic who seems to have been sponsored by a Tea Party group? Rationally, the opinions of real experts are worth more than the opinions of politicians or random people from the street. But part of the democratic ideal seems to be that everybody is entitled to their own opinion, regardless of their competence. Trump found a slick way to tap into that expertise-denying attitude.
The press conference did not end well for the president. CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, who had done her homework, asked a question about Immanuel’s video:
Space aliens. Anti-religion vaccines. Witches. Demons. Trump’s expert was even stranger than expected. Trump replied, “I thought her voice was an important voice, but I know nothing about her.” Humiliated, he abruptly ended the press conference and trudged out of the room.
Second, Trump said that: “But many doctors think it’s extremely good, and some people don’t. Some people — I think it’s become very political.” His claim that “it’s become very political” gave the impression that his political enemies are making it political. But the source he cites, Dr. Immanuel, seems to be affiliated with the Tea Party. In Business Insider, Tom Porter writes that Dr. Immanuel's group is involved with the Tea Party Patriots, who have "raised $24 million to support Republican Candidates and causes since 2014." So, she and President Trump, and not Trump’s opponents, are the ones who are politicizing medical science. Trump created the misimpression by careful phrasing: “it’s become very political.” He didn’t say “Democrats are making this political,” which would be factually incorrect and absurd. He couldn’t say, “I am making this political,” which would give away his game. So, he said “it’s become very political.” Sneaky. Tricky. But persuasive.
Third, there is the view that everyone’s opinion is as good as everyone else’s. Recall that Trump said: “I happen to believe in it. I would take it. As you know, I took it for a 14-day period, and I’m here. Right? I’m here.” Yes, sure, people like Dr. Anthony Fauci went to college for years and then spent many more years engaged in scientific research. But why should their medical opinion count more than President Trump’s? Why should Dr. Fauci’s opinion count more than that of an obscure physician from a small clinic who seems to have been sponsored by a Tea Party group? Rationally, the opinions of real experts are worth more than the opinions of politicians or random people from the street. But part of the democratic ideal seems to be that everybody is entitled to their own opinion, regardless of their competence. Trump found a slick way to tap into that expertise-denying attitude.
The press conference did not end well for the president. CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, who had done her homework, asked a question about Immanuel’s video:
“Mr. President, the woman that you said is a great doctor in that video that you retweeted last night said masks don’t work and there is a cure for COVID-19, both of which health experts say is not true. She’s also made videos saying that doctors make medicine using DNA from aliens, and that they’re trying to create a vaccine to make you immune from becoming religious.”
Space aliens. Anti-religion vaccines. Witches. Demons. Trump’s expert was even stranger than expected. Trump replied, “I thought her voice was an important voice, but I know nothing about her.” Humiliated, he abruptly ended the press conference and trudged out of the room.
Earlier: Trump Uses Medical Quackery to Divert Attention from Real Issues
Here is the rhetorical dilemma that Trump has created for himself. There is, at this point, no cure for the coronavirus. People who get sick receive only supportive care. The only effective way to control the pandemic would be to implement public health measures. But Trump has never asked his supporters to do anything so difficult. So, he diverted attention by implying that a cure already exists (when it does not) and appealed to his core supporters’ paranoid attitudes to help them think that hydroxychloroquine might solve the problem. He implied that the cure is unused only because experts and political opponents get in the way. He denied responsibility and tried to create false hope – all with a few cleverly chosen words.
No, President Trump does not have an effective coronavirus policy. Never, however, underestimate his persuasive skill.
P.S.: Kaitlan Collins had done her homework. President Trump had not. The fact that she caught him unprepared and flat-footed did not, however, prevent him from giving social media plenty of soundbites to reinforce the next day’s conspiracy theories. Isn’t that what this was all about?
P.P.S. When you are the leader of the free world, and your policy is so foolish that you need to quote a physician who believes in demon DNA, maybe it’s time to change your policy.
Here is the rhetorical dilemma that Trump has created for himself. There is, at this point, no cure for the coronavirus. People who get sick receive only supportive care. The only effective way to control the pandemic would be to implement public health measures. But Trump has never asked his supporters to do anything so difficult. So, he diverted attention by implying that a cure already exists (when it does not) and appealed to his core supporters’ paranoid attitudes to help them think that hydroxychloroquine might solve the problem. He implied that the cure is unused only because experts and political opponents get in the way. He denied responsibility and tried to create false hope – all with a few cleverly chosen words.
No, President Trump does not have an effective coronavirus policy. Never, however, underestimate his persuasive skill.
P.S.: Kaitlan Collins had done her homework. President Trump had not. The fact that she caught him unprepared and flat-footed did not, however, prevent him from giving social media plenty of soundbites to reinforce the next day’s conspiracy theories. Isn’t that what this was all about?
P.P.S. When you are the leader of the free world, and your policy is so foolish that you need to quote a physician who believes in demon DNA, maybe it’s time to change your policy.
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