Topline

White House coronavirus task force coordinator Deborah Birx became the latest senior official to openly contradict the president’s rosy Covid-19 claims in an internal memo circulated Monday, the Washington Post reports, urging “aggressive action” as the U.S. enters “the most concerning and most deadly phase of this pandemic,” marking a far cry from Trump’s claims that the country is “rounding the corner.” 

Key Facts

Birx, who was selected by the Trump administration to lead the Covid-19 response, criticised the heavy focus on opposing lockdowns as means of controlling the virus, stressing that “this is not about lockdowns” and has not been about lockdowns since March or April. 

Birx criticised the administration’s lack of response to the pandemic and suggested that rather than debating over lockdowns, the crisis was down to “an aggressive balanced approach that is not being implemented.”

In the memo, sent round White House and agency officials on the eve of the presidential election, Birx blatantly contradicted Trump on several points of his Covid-19 response, pointing out that testing is “flat or declining” in many areas where Covid-19 cases are rising (the president says cases are on the rise because of an increase in testing) and that large, crowded events with mostly maskless participants (like the president’s rallies) are ill-advised. 

Most worryingly, Birx flatly contested the president’s claim that America is “rounding the corner,” instead saying that the “most deadly phase of this pandemic” lies in wait ahead. 

Birx urged a consistent message from the administration about the use of masks, handwashing, and physical and social distancing. 

White House communications director Alyssa Farah disagreed with Birx’s suggestion that the administration’s response to the pandemic has been lacking, and told the Post:“We are working around-the-clock to safely treat the virus and ultimately defeat it.”   

Key Background 

Such a public rebuttal of the Trump administration’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis is out of character for the usually diplomatic Deborah Birx, who, as Axios writes, normally takes a much more measured approach to gain influence. Over recent weeks, she has reportedly grown tired of working within an administration that has elevated a radiologist, Scott Atlas, who has no expertise in infectious diseases, to a leading advisory role in managing a pandemic that has killed over 230,000 Americans. Instead, she has been travelling around the country to advise groups of state and local officials on how best to manage the virus.     

Crucial Quote

“We are entering the most concerning and most deadly phase of this pandemic … leading to increasing mortality,” said Birx in a memo seen by the Washington Post. “This is not about lockdowns — It hasn’t been about lockdowns since March or April. It’s about an aggressive balanced approach that is not being implemented.”

What To Watch For

Birx’s future in politics is uncertain. Clearly, she is on the way out with Trump; the coronavirus task force hardly meets anymore and, unlike Dr. Anthony Fauci, who Trump technically cannot fire but has hinted at doing so anyway, Birx is a political appointee subject to the political whim of a man who does not like to be criticised. Biden has not said whether or not he would keep Birx in place if elected.     

Tangent

Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has advised six presidents in his nearly four decade tenure as head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been much more vocal in his criticism of the president and his Covid-19 response. Recently, Fauci brazenly criticised the Trump administration’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in an interview with the Washington Post, and praised the Biden campaign for taking it more “seriously from a public health perspective” as opposed to Trump’s economy-based approach. Trump, in response, hinted that he may fire the official after the election, something that would, in practice, be rather difficult for him to do.

Further Reading

Trump Hints At Firing Fauci After Election (Forbes)

‘A whole lot of hurt’: Fauci warns of covid-19 surge, offers blunt assessment of Trump’s response (Washington Post)

White House Lists’ Ending’ Covid-19 Pandemic As Trump Accomplishment (Forbes) 

Top Trump adviser bluntly contradicts president on covid-19 threat, urging all-out response (Washington Post)

Why Deborah Birx is the real power doctor (Axios)

Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus