Trump Threatens To Overrule FDA On COVID Vaccine

Politico reports:



President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the White House may not approve tougher FDA guidelines for authorizing the emergency use of any coronavirus vaccines. “That has to be approved by the White House,” Trump said. “We may or may not approve it.”

Trump also suggested that the FDA’s decision to revise the standards, first issued in June, “was a political move more than anything else.” The president has repeatedly vowed that a vaccine would be available by Election Day, although prominent scientists within his administration have said it’s extremely unlikely.

Trump’s remarks came hours after he spoke with HHS Secretary Alex Azar about the FDA proposal, two people familiar with the situation said. The president’s criticism throws into jeopardy an effort viewed as key to boosting public confidence in any eventual coronavirus vaccine.