TRUMP RAPS FDA AS PART OF ‘DEEP STATE’ SABOTAGING COVID-19 TRIALS

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (Sunday, August 23, 2020 in Manila) accused members of the “deep state” at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), without providing evidence, of working to slow testing of COVID-19 vaccines until after the November presidential election, Linda So reported for Reuters.

In a Twitter post, Trump said the deep state “or whoever” at the FDA was making it very difficult for drug companies to enroll people in clinical trials to test vaccines and therapies for the novel coronavirus. As of this Sunday morning in Manila, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a total of 174,645 COVID-19 fatalities in the US.

The comment came after Reuters exclusively reported on Thursday that a top FDA official said he would resign if the Trump administration approved a vaccine before it was shown to be safe and effective. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!” Trump wrote, tagging FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn in the tweet. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was a “dangerous statement” and that the president was “beyond the pale” for accusing the FDA of playing politics.

His tweet increases the pressure on the FDA after Peter Marks, director of its Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, last week said on a conference call with government officials, pharmaceutical executives and academics that he would resign if the agency rubber-stamped an unproven vaccine. Scientists, public health officials and lawmakers are worried that the Trump administration will push the FDA to approve a vaccine in advance of the vote, even if data from clinical trials do not support its widespread use.