Dr. James Phillips, a physician who works at Walter Reed Medical Center, was “removed” from the military hospital’s schedule after criticizing Donald Trump back in October for taking a joy ride with Secret Service agents to wave to his fans while battling COVID-19.
“Every single person,” Dr. Phillips had tweeted in October, “in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity.”
Dr. James Phillips, Non-Military Attending Physician, Walter Reed, on Trump driveby: "Masks or no masks, being inside a vehicle that's hermetically sealed circulates virus inside and potentially puts people at risk." pic.twitter.com/wDxlwqDqEW
— The Hill (@thehill) October 5, 2020
Phillips is also on contract to serve as an attending physician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC).
CBS News Chief Congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes, who first reported on Dr. Phillips’ removal, says “Walter Reed officials deny they made the decision to remove him, telling CBS News the hospital ‘provides requirements for contract positions. Schedules are determined by the contractor. There was no decision made by anyone at WRNMMC to remove Dr. Phillips from the schedule.’”
Phillips has also gone on news networks to criticize the president’s handling of the pandemic. More recently he told CNN’s “AC360” President Trump’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, calling on Americans to “gather” during the annual holiday, is a “slap in the face” to front-line emergency physicians.
“As an emergency physician who’s on the frontlines every day over the last two weeks have seen more and more Covid in our emergency departments, it’s a slap in the face.” – Dr. James Phillips on Trump’s Thanksgiving proclamation calling for Americans to “gather” for the holiday pic.twitter.com/Db6y5yuSi4
— CNN (@CNN) November 26, 2020
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