• On Wednesday, President Trump held a policy meeting at the White House to discuss national vaping guidelines. The Trump administration is preparing to ban the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes, including mint and menthol flavors, across the US.
  • The meeting comes after more than 450 people have been hospitalized and at least five died from vaping-related lung illnesses.
  • Some of the cases have been linked to nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and others to THC-containing vapes.
  • Health experts are still unsure what’s causing these illnesses and deaths and the FDA and CDC continue to investigate.
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On Wednesday, President Trump held a policy meeting at the White House to discuss national vaping guidelines amidst hundreds of cases of vaping-related illnesses across the United States.

The Trump administration, with guidance from the FDA, is preparing to ban the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes across the US, the administration said in an unexpected announcement. The ban will build on former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s proposal to ban flavored tobacco products like Juul.

The meeting comes after more than 450 people have been hospitalized and at least five died from vaping-related lung illnesses, both from nicotine and THC vape products.

"The Trump Administration is making it clear that we intend to clear the market of flavored e-cigarettes to reverse the deeply concerning epidemic of youth e-cigarette use that is impacting children, families, schools and communities," Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement. "We will not stand idly by as these products become an on-ramp to combustible cigarettes or nicotine addiction for a generation of youth."

Azar and acting FDA Commissioner Norman Sharpless said the ban will include all flavored vaping products including mint and menthol flavors. Flavored vape products have gained scrutiny because they seem to be marketed toward young adults.

"She's got a son ... she feels very strongly about it," Trump said of Melania's involvement in the vaping issue.

Currently, the FDA doesn't have a plan in place for how to enact a nationwide flavored vape ban.

Read more: A number of vape-related lung illnesses are linked to 'Dank Vapes,' a mysterious black market brand selling THC products

Health experts are still unsure what's causing these illnesses and deaths and the FDA and CDC continue to investigate. Currently, experts believe vape juice ingredients like vitamin E acetate could be causing these life-threatening reactions.

This is a developing story. Please check back for more.