Former Surgeon General defends Birx after CNN interview

Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams defended Deborah Birx, the former White House coronavirus response coordinator, following CNN’s special report on the nation’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adams took to Twitter on Monday to criticize what he saw as no support for Birx, and pointed out that women seemed to be the most critical of her.

“Fascinating to see zero support for Birx- the lone female doc in the room- even among women. In fact, women seem to be the most critical of her. It took more courage for her to stay than to leave, and people who weren’t there have no clue how much worse it could’ve been w/o her,” Adams tweeted.

Fascinating to see zero support for Birx- the lone female doc in the room- even among women. In fact, women seem to be the most critical of her. It took more courage for her to stay than to leave, and people who weren’t there have no clue how much worse it could’ve been w/o her.

— Jerome Adams (@JeromeAdamsMD) March 29, 2021

Adams further pointed out that Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, had received praise for his role in helping deal with the pandemic.

He noted that “they were in the same rooms & had the same chances to push back or leave. Big difference was Fauci was protected/ couldn’t be fired. Both played the cards they were dealt.”

“I just will never understand the sentiment -from people who weren’t there- that everyone (but Fauci) should’ve walked away or got themselves fired & somehow things would’ve been better with less doctors/ scientists/ diversity in the room. Can’t change the game from the sidelines,” Adams concluded.

I just will never understand the sentiment -from people who weren’t there- that everyone (but Fauci) should’ve walked away or got themselves fired & somehow things would’ve been better with less doctors/ scientists/ diversity in the room. Can’t change the game from the sidelines.

— Jerome Adams (@JeromeAdamsMD) March 29, 2021

Fauci and Birx were interviewed for the special report “COVID WARS: The Pandemic Doctors Speak Out,” which aired Sunday night. CNN pointed out that Adams declined to be interviewed for the report.

Birx has been the subject of scrutiny for her work in the Trump administration on the coronavirus pandemic. She has specifically faced heat for not speaking out enough during her time in the White House as Trump was making false claims about the pandemic.

Fauci defended Birx during the special, saying that she was in “a much more difficult situation” having an office in the West Wing.

Trump harshly criticized Birx in a statement on Monday, calling her a “proven liar with very little credibility left.”