Trump Touts Experimental Treatment As ‘Cure,’ Urges Emergency Use, Free Access

AP: Trump Hails Experimental Treatment For His Virus Recovery
President Donald Trump credited an experimental drug treatment with helping his recovery from COVID-19 and suggested his diagnosis could be a “blessing in disguise” in the nation’s battle against the pandemic. But there is no way for the president or his doctors to know whether the drug had any effect. In a new White House video posted Wednesday evening, Trump said his illness had shed light on an experimental antibody cocktail that he tied to his improved condition. Seemingly sensitive to the fact that his treatment course has been far more comprehensive than the care received by average Americans, he promised to swiftly get the drug approved for broader use — and distribute it for free — even though he does not have the power to order that himself. (Madhani, Colvin and Perrone, 10/8)

The New York Times: Trump Calls His Illness ‘A Blessing From God’ 
“I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it,” Mr. Trump said, apparently referring to the fact that he had learned about the benefits of the drug as a result of becoming ill. It was the first time that Mr. Trump tacitly acknowledged another appearance problem — that he has received the kind of intensive and costly medical care for coronavirus that is not available to any member of the general public. (Haberman and Thomas, 10/7)

CNN: Trump Returns To Oval Office, Breaking Isolation After His Hospitalization For Coronavirus 
The appearance, his first since returning from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, was taped Wednesday afternoon in the Rose Garden by White House staff. Trump seemed upbeat, but his voice still sounded breathless at points and he appeared to be wearing make-up. Parts of the video looked edited. (Liptak, 10/7)

Politico: Trump Claims His Covid Treatment Means A Cure Is Imminent
The president for months has also been promising that a coronavirus vaccine is imminent, often pledging to make it available by Election Day. Late stage clinical trials are underway, but no vaccine-maker has yet sought emergency authorization or approval from the Food and Drug Administration. On Tuesday, the FDA released stricter new vaccine guidelines that make it unlikely a shot will arrive by Nov. 3. Now Trump is promoting the experimental antibody drugs as cures, with his most effusive praise reserved for the drug made by Regeneron. The company’s CEO is a member of Trump's Westchester, N.Y., golf club. (Morello, 10/7)

In related news —

The Washington Post: Covid-19 Survivors See Callousness, Not Compassion, In Trump’s Bout With The Virus 
Rather than bond Trump to the millions of Americans who have suffered from the virus or watched a loved one go through it, Trump’s experience with the virus has only deepened the sense of distance that some voters say they feel from a president who has consistently downplayed its severity. In interviews, Americans whose lives have been upended by the virus said they felt disappointed that the president missed an opportunity to model responsible behavior. They expressed anger that Trump has continued to minimize the virus’s threat after receiving deluxe care that the vast majority of people can only dream of at a time when testing and treatments are running low. And they voiced fear that Trump’s words and actions would lead to more reckless behavior among his supporters. (Witte, 10/7)

CBS News: Trump Told Americans To Not Let COVID-19 "Dominate" Their Lives. Here's What Victims' Families Have To Say. 
More than 3,100 Americans have died from COVID-19 in the five days since President Trump revealed his positive diagnosis, yet the president has continued to downplay the coronavirus threat. His comments, after being hospitalized and given experimental treatments not widely available to the public, have prompted many Americans whose loved ones did not have access to the same care as the president to express anger and resentment over his message. "I just felt really disrespected and unheard," two-time Olympian Kara Goucher told CBS News' David Begnaud. (10/7)

USA Today: American Lung Association Works To Dispel Misinformation
The rash of coronavirus infections emanating from the White House, followed by President Donald Trump’s tweeted advice to the nation – “Don’t be afraid of Covid’’ – prompted the American Lung Association on Wednesday to issue guidance for those confronting the disease in hopes of dispelling misinformation. ... The ALA recommendations mostly reiterate guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but they come at a time of increased skepticism about the government’s instructions regarding the virus and fatigue about restrictions. (Ortiz, 10/7)

The Washington Post: Trump’s Resistance To Face Masks, Even While Infected With Coronavirus, Sets Him Apart From Other World Leaders 
Among world leaders, President Trump is increasingly isolated on the issue of face masks. After he cast doubt for months on masks’ efficacy in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, his resistance to White House precautions even after contracting the virus seemed to forestall the possibility of an about-face. While many world leaders have supported the use of face masks and have chosen to wear them during public appearances — despite, in some cases, earlier reluctance of their own — Trump has delivered mixed, sometimes contradictory guidance, and has often appeared without a mask, donning one in public for the first time in July. (Noack, 10/7)