Trump, per White House pool, said this afternoon that he wasn’t serious about using disinfectants to treat the virus: he said he was saying it “sarcastically” to “reporters just like you to see what would happen.”

MORE Trump: “I do think disinfectant on the hands could have a very good effect.” He said it’s being studied in laboratories and repeated his claim that the sun, “has a tremendous impact on it.” He added, “I’m not a doctor. They have to work with their doctors.”

Per WH pool, when Trump was asked if he was encouraging its use, he replied, “Of course not.”

Trump’s full exchange with reporters this afternoon, in which he claimed he was being “sarcastic” when suggesting disinfectant as a treatment for the virus, via WH pool. Note he also claimed he was addressing the comment to reporter @jeffmason1, who informed him he was not there.

Thanks to today’s pooler @chrisjohnson82 for the complete transcript.