LISTEN NOW as President Trump makes announcement regarding "breakthrough" in coronavirus therapy.
President Donald Trump will make an announcement Sunday evening about a “major therapeutic breakthrough” on the coronavirus—reportedly an emergency authorization of convalescent plasma as a treatment.
Trump tweeted Sunday that the news conference would be at 5:30 p.m. "Very good news!" he wrote.
Important White House News Conference at 5:30 (sharp) today. Very good news!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2020
The FDA says convalescent plasma is the liquid part of blood that is collected from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus. COVID patients develop antibodies in their blood against the virus that could potentially help current patients battle the disease.
"Convalescent plasma is being investigated for the treatment of COVID-19 because there is no approved treatment for this disease and there is some information that suggests it might help some patients recover from COVID-19," the FDA says.
The White House wants the FDA to approve blood plasma authorization. On ABC's “This Week” Sunday, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said, "This president is about cutting red tape."
“We really need to make sure that we have good science and the proper protocol,” Meadows said. “But we also can’t wait around and assume that this virus is going to go away. This president wants real results and that’s why he took to Twitter.”
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted late Saturday that Trump would make the announcement with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn.
News conference with President @realDonaldTrump at 6 pm tomorrow concerning a major therapeutic breakthrough on the China Virus. Secretary Azar and Dr. Hahn will be in attendance.
— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) August 23, 2020
In a tweet in which he tagged Hahn, the president wrote: “The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”
The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives! @SteveFDA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2020
“The President’s dangerous attempt to inject himself into the scientific decisions of the FDA jeopardizes the health & well-being of all Americans,” she continued.
The FDA must approve drugs or vaccines based on their safety and effectiveness – NOT political pressure from the White House.The President’s dangerous attempt to inject himself into the scientific decisions of @US_FDA jeopardizes the health & well-being of all Americans. https://t.co/Dt7CBVjX1D
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 22, 2020
