On Tuesday The President defended his decision to take hydroxychloroquine as a potential preventative measure against Covid-19, saying it’s an individual decision but that he believes it provides “an additional level of safety” despite warnings that the drug can cause heart problems.

“I think it gives you an additional level of safety,” Trump told reporters after attending a Senate GOP lunch. “But you can ask many doctors who are in favor of it. Many front-line workers won’t go there unless they have the hydroxy.”

“This is an individual decision to make,” he added. “But it’s had a great reputation and if it was somebody else other than me people would say, ‘Gee isn’t that smart.'”

The FDA issued a warning last month advising against taking hydroxychloroquine outside of a hospital or clinical trial because of the risk of severe heart problems.

The drug displays no benefit for patients in an analysis of those hospitalized in Veterans Health Administration medical centers. The study found the two primary outcomes for coronavirus patients treated with hydroxychloroquine were death and the need for mechanical ventilation. 

The president downplayed those findings on Tuesday, arguing that the veterans study involved “people in very bad shape.” He cited more positive reports from Europe, though there is still not a consensus in the medical community that the pill has benefits as a prophylactic. 

The Trump White House clarified on Tuesday that Americans need a prescription to take hydroxychloroquine, and Trump told reporters that “people are going to have to make up their own mind” about the drug.

It is unclear if Trump’s use of the drug came up during the meeting at the Capitol with GOP senators, which was expected to focus on future legislative responses to the coronavirus pandemic.