- Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, called Dr. Stella Immanuel, the doctor seen in a viral video espousing misinformation about the
coronavirus , his "hero" on his radio show on Wednesday. - Giuliani and Immanuel discussed the doctor's claim that hydroxychloroquine is a cure for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
- There is no known cure for COVID-19. A growing body of evidence has shown that hydroxychloroquine is not an effective coronavirus treatment.
- Immanuel, who is also a minister, has made some unsubstantiated medical claims in the past, such as saying cysts are caused by having sex dreams about demons.
- Giuliani also said he's personally helped get the medication for four of his friends because "it's hard to get hydroxychloroquine."
President Donald Trump's attorney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani called Dr. Stella Immanuel — a doctor seen in a viral video spreading coronavirus misinformation — his "hero" on his radio show on Wednesday.
"Well, you're my hero," Giuliani said after Immanuel paid him the same compliment. Giuliani went on to say that he'd been following the use of hydroxychloroquine and that he also believes that the medication is effective at treating COVID-19 in the "early stages" of the disease.
There is a mounting body of evidence showing that there is no benefit to hydroxychloroquine COVID-19, including a limited study conducted on its use before hospitalization.
The Food and Drug Administration revoked emergency authorization for its use in emergency settings last month.
Immanuel, a licensed pediatrician, and a minister in Texas, went viral for a speech she gave during a press conference that was broadcasted initially by the right-wing outlet Breitbart.
In the viral video, Immanuel can be seen on the steps of the Supreme Court at the "White Coat Summit," which was organized by the Tea Party Patriots — a right-wing group that backed the anti-lockdown protests earlier this year. It featured doctors part of a newly formed organization called America's Frontline Doctors.
During the press conference, Immanuel falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine is a cure for coronavirus.
There is currently no known cure for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The video was taken down by platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, but it had already been viewed by millions — and shared by President Donald Trump, his son, Donald Trump Jr., and Madonna.
After the video went viral, The Daily Beast found that Immanuel has a history of making outlandish and unsubstantiated medical claims, including preaching that cysts and endometriosis are a result of people having dreams that they're having sex with demons and witches, and that alien DNA is used in our medicine.
"They are responsible for serious gynecological problems. We call them all kinds of names — endometriosis, we call them molar pregnancies, we call them fibroids, we call them cysts, but most of them are evil deposits from the spirit husband," Immanuel said of the medical issues in a 2013 sermon. "They are responsible for miscarriages, impotence — men that can't get it up."
On Giuliani's show, Immanuel doubled down on her views of hydroxychloroquine with support from Giuliani.
"So you're a real a doctor, you're not a laboratory creature?" Giuliani asked.
Immanuel, who got her medical degree in Nigeria, told Giuliani she began using hydroxychloroquine as a treatment in West Africa where malaria was prevalent. The drug has been used to effectively treat malaria and lupus, but it has not proven effective against COVID-19.
Giuliani also said he's gotten the medication for four of his friends because "it's hard to get hydroxychloroquine."
Giuliani could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.