Trump defends his hydroxychloroquine habit after insulting female reporter

'It doesn't seem to have any effect on me,' president says of controversial malaria medication that his federal health agencies have questioned

Donald Trump defended his use of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug that federal agencies have said has not yet proven itself as a counter to coronavirus, saying he uses it as a "line of defence" because he interacts with many people each day.

"Look how many people are around this table," he said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

"It doesn't seem to have any effect on me," Mr Truimp told reporters.

Without elaborating, the president cited "studies" conducted in Italy and France he claims found the anti-malaria drug is an effective counter to Covid-19.

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Mr Trump said he started taking the medication because "a young man close to me" contracted the virus, appearing to cite a military valet who tested positive recently. He also noted Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary, Katie Miller, also tested positive. She is married to one of his top policy advisers, Stephen Miller.

He defended himself minutes after another flare up with CBS reporter Paula Reed.

She asked when he took question at the end of the event: "You're overseeing historic economic despair. What's the delay, where's the plan [to safely reopen the country]?"

He replied: "I think we've announced a plan. We're opening up our country. Just a rude person, you are."

It was merely the latest time the two have tangled during press conferences and the impromptu gaggles he often holds with reporters since the Covid-19 outbreak.

A handful of female White House reporters seem to get under his skin – though he sometimes lashes out at male reporters, too.