President Trump on Saturday accused the Food and Drug Administration on Saturday of deliberately slow-moving COVID-19 treatments to jeopardize its chances of reelection in 2020.
“The deep state, or whatever, at the FDA makes it very difficult for drug companies to get people to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Of course, they hope to delay the response until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and save lives! ” Trump tweeted, tagging agent commissioner Dr. Stephen M. Hahn.
Earlier in the week, the FDA stopped an emergency permit for blood plasma as a treatment for the disease.
Top government scientists, including Drs. Francis Collins and Dr Anthony Fauci, have apparently intervened to act for delay.
“You have a lot of people out there who do not want to rush things because they want to do after November 3,” Trump said Wednesday after the news broke.
The president has urged the FDA to be more proactive during the coronavirus pandemic.
Last month, he reiterated his pressure on COVID-19 patients to take the unproven anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, after the FDA gave its approval for the use of the drug in hospitals, citing a lack of evidence that it is effective.
“A lot of doctors think it’s extremely good and some people do not… I happen to believe that. I would take it. As you know, I took the name for a period of 14 days and I’m here, right? I’m here, “Trump said at the time.
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