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President Trump criticized “60 Minutes” host Norah O’Donnell and her special guest, healthcare “whistleblower” Dr. Rick Bright, the recently fired director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
Bright testified before Congress last week that the Trump administration was pressuring people to push hydroxychloroquine as a cure to the coronavirus. Bright also claimed the Trump administration was unprepared to handle the severity of the coronavirus and its spread.
In a series of tweets, Trump said the “fake whistleblower” was wrong about the coronavirus recovery effort.
The Daily Wire reports:
In the interview with host Norah O’Donnell, Bright, a “whistleblower” who claimed last week in front of a House subcommittee that the Trump administration pressured officials to push hydroxychloroquine and that he was ignored after warning about shortages of some medical equipment, again criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the pandemic.
“The best scientists that we have in our government who are working really hard to try to figure this out aren’t getting that clear, cohesive leadership, strategic plan message yet,” Bright said during the interview. “Until they get that, it’s still gonna be chaotic.”
“I believe my last-ditch effort to protect Americans from that drug was the final straw that they used.” Government scientist Rick Bright says he believes he was retaliated against for raising concerns about hydroxychloroquine. https://t.co/pbZFkHyNN8 pic.twitter.com/KnHoFZgwvU
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) May 17, 2020
President Trump was not happy with the comments and immediately criticized “60 Minutes,” O’Donnell, and Bright.
“60 Minutes & third place anchor, Norah O’Donnell, are doing everything in their power to demean our Country, much to the benefit of the Radical Left Democrats,” Trump said in an initial tweet. “Tonight they put on yet another Fake ‘Whistleblower’, a disgruntled employee who supports Dems, fabricates stories, & spews lies.”
.@60Minutes & third place anchor, @NorahODonnell, are doing everything in their power to demean our Country, much to the benefit of the Radical Left Democrats. Tonight they put on yet another Fake “Whistleblower”, a disgruntled employee who supports Dems, fabricates stories, &…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2020
“60 Minutes report was incorrect, which they couldn’t care less about. Fake News!” the president continued. “I don’t know this guy, never met him, but don’t like what I see. How can a creep like this show up to work tomorrow & report to HHS Sec. Alex Azar, his boss, after trashing him on T.V.?”
“This whole Whistleblower racket needs to be looked at very closely, it is causing great injustice & harm,” he said. “I hope you are listening Sen. Susan Collins.”
Trump added: “I also hope that Shari Redstone will take a look at her poorly performing gang. She knows how to make things right!”
….This whole Whistleblower racket needs to be looked at very closely, it is causing great injustice & harm. I hope you are listening @SenSusanCollins I also hope that Shari Redstone will take a look at her poorly performing gang. She knows how to make things right!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2020
Ahead of Bright’s Sunday interview, Trump previously called him a “disgruntled employee” who was “not liked or respected” by his coworkers.
“I don’t know the so-called Whistleblower Rick Bright, never met him or even heard of him, but to me he is a disgruntled employee, not liked or respected by people I spoke to and who, with his attitude, should no longer be working for our government!” Trump tweeted ahead of Bright’s testimony Thursday.
