Dr. Deborah Birx revealed in a new interview just what was she was thinking when former Republican President Donald Trump suggested in a now infamous press conference that COVID-19 might be treated by injecting disinfectant.
Birx, who served as coronavirus response coordinator for Trump's COVID task force, told ABC News about several behind the scenes details that paint a picture of a presidential pandemic response in total disarray.
Speaking about the disinfectant moment, Birx told ABC's Dr. Jennifer Ashton Trump's comment left her "paralyzed" in shock.
See her comments below.
.@DrJAshton on Pres. Trump's comments about disinfectants: "Did it ever cross your mind to stand up and stand next to the president, and say, 'Let me clarify that\u2019?"\n\nDr. Deborah Birx: "That would have been the logical and important thing to do...I was paralyzed in that moment."pic.twitter.com/1P3IFdXAPW— ABC News (@ABC News) 1650932187
Birx's sit-down with ABC came in advance of the release of her book, Silent Invasion: The Untold Story of the Trump Administration, COVID-19, and Preventing the Next Pandemic Before It’s Too Late.
She told Ashton Trump's suggestion came from a misunderstanding of disinfection measures Birx had mentioned pertaining to playground equipment in order to inform parents it was still safe for children to play outside despite the virus.
Ashton asked the question many Americans had for Dr. Birx since her time at the White House ended. Why, when Trump suggested injecting disinfectant, did she not immediately stand up and correct the conversation?
Birx replied:
"That would have been the logical and important thing to do... I was paralyzed in that moment because it was so unexpected."
She went on to express regret.
"I think you're absolutely right. I could've gotten up and probably stood between the scientists and the President and said what I said later... [disinfectant is] 'not a treatment,' this was for playground equipment."
She went on to describe the horror she felt as the disinfectant conversation continued on and on.
"I just wanted it to be 'The Twilight Zone' and all go away. I mean, I just—I could just see everything unraveling in that moment."
Birx also revealed relations between the task force and the Trump administration became so volatile she, Dr. Fauci and others on the task force had a resignation pact stating if one of them were fired they would all resign.
But on Twitter, most were not interested in Birx's version of events.
Many responded with anger over what they see as Birx's failures during her time on the task force.
Thoughts and prayers for a doc who suddenly found she could no longer do her job properly as hundreds of thousands of Americans were dying\u2014I\u2019m sure it had nothing to do with the man she refused to correct being her boss\n\nI\u2019m sick of those who stayed quiet when the chips were downhttps://twitter.com/ABC/status/1518743178039508993\u00a0\u2026— Seth Abramson (@Seth Abramson) 1650989715
I do have a degree of sympathy for her, because I imagine her job was not easy. However, once her 'selective paralysis' was gone, she had many opportunities to go on the record and correct misinformation.— Jenn X (@Jenn X) 1650984970
So was America, Dr. Birx. INSTEAD of doing something about Donald Trump's lies about #COVID19 each day, you continued to put on a new scarf!https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1518743178039508993\u00a0\u2026— Peter Morley (@Peter Morley) 1650989691
Sorry, not sorry. No matter what you have to say now, you were absent when you had a high profile and could have spoken truth to power. You chose the coward's way and cost thousands of lives. \nYou will be known for scarves, not courage.— evelyn hoff \ud83c\udf0e\ud83d\ude37\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@evelyn hoff \ud83c\udf0e\ud83d\ude37\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1650975948
She was so "paralyzed" that she was silent for months & said of Trump:\n\n"He\u2019s been so attentive to the scientific literature & the details & the data. I think his ability to analyze and integrate data\u2026has really been a real benefit during these discussions about medical issues.\u201dhttps://twitter.com/ABC/status/1518743178039508993\u00a0\u2026— Fr. Robert R. Ballecer, SJ (@Fr. Robert R. Ballecer, SJ) 1650994552
Let the rehabilitation tour begin.\n\nWe will never forget your complicity Dr. Birx https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1518743178039508993\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/dgXUVpcxUV— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 Zoe Washburne 2.0--Vaxxed and 2X Boosted \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 Zoe Washburne 2.0--Vaxxed and 2X Boosted \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1650995065
"Dr" Birx is a disgrace. Nothing she can say will ever change the fact that she betrayed the American people by quietly standing by a dangerous tyrant while millions of Americans needlessly died. She should be stripped of her license and shunned in shame.https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1518745787617800192\u00a0\u2026— Zen Buddhette \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Zen Buddhette \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1651000860
Paralyzed?\nNo...scared to challenge the supreme leader.https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1518745787617800192\u00a0\u2026— Tralfaz OG \u270c (@Tralfaz OG \u270c) 1650975551
Dr. Birx was not "paralyzed". She fawned over Trump and told ridiculous lies to the American people. Don't let her reinvent herself. She failed us. People died. And now she's trying to sell a fucking book.https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1243556939369496576?t=dUtJNMFpgaBILcMG6ucldw&s=19\u00a0\u2026— Critter \ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b (@Critter \ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b) 1650934259
We have to do better in America. The rehabilitation of this person who is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths is inappropriate.https://www.vox.com/2020/3/27/21197074/deborah-birx-praised-trump-scientific-literature-coronavirus\u00a0\u2026— Mark J. Reichel (@Mark J. Reichel) 1650990096
Birx's book was released earlier this week.
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