Donald Trump's incompetence has led to the deaths of more than 200,000 Americans from the coronavirus. Now he's interfering with the scientific work and needed to put an end to the pandemic.
On Wednesday Trump said that he, and not the FDA, will have the final approval over guidelines to approve a coronavirus vaccine.1 This would understandably sap public confidence in the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine and set back efforts to end the pandemic.
More than 200,000 Americans are dead because Trump continues to put his own political fortunes ahead of science. It's time Congress to put a stop to this.
Sign the petition and tell Congress: Stop Trump from politicizing the scientific response to the coronavirus pandemic!
Trump already admitted he downplayed the coronavirus threat, telling Bob Woodward that he "still likes playing it down" despite the fact that the USA has one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks on the planet.4
Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner also derailed a national plan for coronavirus testing, reportedly to get back at Democratic governors in blue states.5
Last week the CDC took down guidance that stated what scientists across the world have already figured out: that the coronavirus is spread in part through airborne particles.1 This comes on the heels of news that Trump officials are manipulating the CDC's daily report in order to make Trump look good.2
This persistent, malicious interference in the nation's response to the pandemic has cost hundreds of thousands of lives, created the worst recession in nearly a century, and undermined efforts to control the pandemic. And once a vaccine is truly ready for the public, Trump's manipulation of the process may sap public confidence in its safety.
There's no way to save lives and bring an end to this pandemic as long as Trump and his cronies continue to prevent scientists from doing their jobs. It's time for Congress to step in.
Add your name: Tell Congress to stop Trump from politicizing the scientific response to the coronavirus pandemic!
Sources:
1. CNN, "Trump claims White House can overrule FDA's attempt to toughen guidelines for coronavirus vaccine," September 24, 2020.
2. ABC News, "Trump admitted he deliberately played down coronavirus threat: Reports," September 9, 2020.
3. Vanity Fair, "How Jared Kushner's Secret Testing Plan 'Went Poof Into Thin Air'," July 31, 2020.
4. CNN, "CDC abruptly removes guidance about airborne coronavirus transmission, says update 'was posted in error'," September 21, 2020.
5. Politico, "Trump officials interfered with CDC reports on Covid-19," September 11, 2020.