In a recent episode of “The Five,” sparks flew as liberal Fox News contributor Jessica Tarlov found herself in a heated exchange with co-host Greg Gutfeld. The topic? Oddly enough, it was the ever-controversial “inject bleach” comment that liberals attributed to President Trump during the early days of the pandemic.
It all kicked off when Tarlov revisited the infamous “inject bleach” incident, claiming that President Trump had suggested injecting disinfectants as a remedy for COVID. Almost immediately, her co-hosts reacted with a mix of exasperation and disbelief.
Jeanine Pirro was first to voice her frustration with an emphatic “Oh, come on!” But it was Greg Gutfeld who took the lead in fact-checking Tarlov live on air. “That’s a hoax,” Gutfeld stated unequivocally. He then challenged Tarlov to look it up, asserting that the claim had been debunked time and time again.
So, what did President Trump actually say? During a press briefing, Trump pondered aloud about using disinfectants internally to combat the virus, stating:
“And then I see the disinfectant, where it 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 in 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.”
While the comment was certainly confusing and arguably irresponsible, Trump never explicitly advised Americans to inject bleach. Instead, his words were a rambling inquiry rather than concrete medical advice.
Not one to back down, Tarlov pulled out her phone in an attempt to substantiate her claim. But as Gutfeld pointed out, finding evidence that Trump specifically told people to inject bleach would be an impossible task. The statement had been taken out of context by many, leading to widespread misinformation.
Despite the debunking efforts, the “inject bleach” narrative has persisted, often weaponized by political opponents. The Biden-Harris campaign has notably referenced it in ads and interviews, keeping the myth alive even though it’s been debunked. Even liberal “fact-checker” Snopes admits that it’s false.
This segment of “The Five” was a masterclass in the perils of live television. It showcased how quickly misinformation can spread and how challenging it can be to set the record straight once a narrative takes hold. For Jessica Tarlov, it was a stark reminder of the importance of accuracy, especially when discussing highly charged topics.