Trump criticizes Dr. Birx for her comments about virus resurgence

President Donald Trump took aim at the coronavirus task force’s coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, on Monday, slamming her as “pathetic” for raising alarm about coronavirus resurgences sweeping across most parts of the country.

In a tweet, Trump suggested Birx is only voicing concern about the new outbreaks because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., recently criticized her for being overly optimistic about the pandemic’s trajectory.

“So Crazy Nancy Pelosi said horrible things about Dr. Deborah Birx, going after her because she was too positive on the very good job we are doing on combatting the China Virus, including Vaccines & Therapeutics,” Trump tweeted, using a label for COVID-19 many consider racist. “In order to counter Nancy, Deborah took the bait & hit us. Pathetic!”

A spokesman for the White House coronavirus task force did not return a request for comment.

Trump’s broadside was directed at remarks Birx made on CNN Sunday.

In the appearance, Birx warned that the virus is currently spreading faster and more aggressively than it did at the outset of the pandemic in March and April.

“It is extraordinarily widespread,” she said. “It’s into the rural as equal urban areas. … To everybody who lives in a rural area, you are not immune or protected from this virus.”

Birx also urged Americans across the country to wear face masks as much as possible: “You need to really consider wearing a mask at home, assuming that you’re positive, if you have individuals in your households with comorbidities.”