Don't Consume Disinfectant, MD Officials Warn After Trump Comment

MARYLAND — State officials are urging Marylanders not to consume disinfectant after President Donald Trump pondered whether it could be a coronavirus remedy.

Mike Ricci, a spokesman for Gov. Larry Hogan (R), said the state's emergency management agency issued the warning after receiving "more than 100 calls" from residents.

Trump made the comments at a White House task force briefing on Thursday.

"I see the disinfectant that 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 inside the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that. So, that, you're going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds — it sounds interesting to me," the president said.

DISINFECTANT. A message from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency: https://t.co/47t1DBRF9u
— Mike Ricci (@riccimike) April 24, 2020

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Trump's comments have sparked backlash online and in the medical community. Experts warn that ingesting or injecting disinfectant is dangerous and deadly.

Maryland Emergency Management Agency also pushed back heavily on Trump's remarks, saying: "This is a reminder that under no circumstances should any disinfectant product be administered into the body through injection, ingestion or any other route."

The White House has since responded to the backlash, saying the president's comments were taken "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 yesterday's briefing," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said. "Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines."

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