Supermodel Karlie Koss’s father reached out to a Facebook group requesting suggestions from fellow physicians on how they would combat the coronavirus pandemic Wednesday.
“If you were in charge of Federal response to the Pandemic what would your recommendation be. Please only serious responses,” Kurt Kloss, a physician, wrote in a post in the Facebook Group EM Docs, Politico reported. The post came just hours after President Trump addressed the nation on the coronavirus pandemic from the Oval Office.
“I have direct channel to person now in charge at White House,” he continued.
The group has nearly 22,000 members who are required to provide credentials to join.
Hundreds of doctors responded to the post, the outlet reported. Kloss later explained that Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, had requested recommendations. Karlie Kloss is the wife of businessman and investor Joshua Kushner, Jared Kushner’s brother.
Kurt Kloss sent Jared Kushner a dozen recommendations Thursday, Politico reported. Some of the recommendations from the group included nationalizing the production of testing kits and activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency, among others.
Jared Kushner has taken a more active role in the Trump administration’s coronavirus response, two people familiar with the move confirmed to Politico. He has attended administration meetings on coronavirus with Trump, including one on how banking leaders could help those impacted by the pandemic.
Jared Kushner has also discussed whether Trump should declare an emergency and coordinate with FEMA, Politico reported.
Kurt Kloss said Jared Kushner is “now directly involved in the response to [coronavirus]” in a Facebook post, according to the outlet. The posts about Jared Kushner’s request have since been removed, but members shared photos with Politico.
The Spectator first reported on the posts Wednesday.
Late last month, some of the other doctors in the group also questioned why Vice President Pence was put in charge of the administration’s coronavirus task force over Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.
“The only thing that gave me any sense of confidence was that Dr. Anthony Faucci [sic] was on that stage,” responded Kurt Kloss, referencing the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
A White House official confirmed to Politico that “In his role as a senior adviser to the president, Jared Kushner is, of course involved in the coronavirus response, but he is not in charge of coronavirus research.”
Following his initial request, Kurt Kloss wrote in the Facebook group, “Tonight I was asked by Jared through my son-in-law for my recommendations, that’s when I turned to you my fellow BAFERD’s for help,” using the acronym for the nickname “Bad Ass F—ing Emergency Room Doctors”.
“Between patients tonight I have reviewed your responses and will summarize what I am sending to Jared for your PEER review before I send it,” he said.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.