One of the physicians leading the Trump administration’s hantavirus response is a penile specialist with a history of spreading conspiracy theories about Covid, according to a new report.
Dr. Brian Christine, an assistant HHS secretary and a top official responsible for infectious disease policy, has emerged as a key figure in the government’s handling of the respiratory virus, which was identified aboard a cruise ship earlier this month.
During a press conference in Nebraska, Christine said the response would be “grounded in science” and transparency, according to CNN. His recent record, however, raises questions about that pledge.
Christine has scant experience in public health, the network reports. Before joining the Trump administration in November, he practiced as a urologist in Alabama, where he primarily specialized in penile implants. He hosted a show on YouTube dubbed “Erection Connection,” where he spoke about erectile dysfunction.
CNN reviewed Christine’s media appearances and social media posts and found that the physician — a four-star admiral — has repeatedly accused public health officials of targeting conservatives and amplified right-wing conspiracy theories.
For example, he once compared former President Joe Biden’s administration to Nazi-controlled Germany, and claimed the Covid pandemic triggered a government plot to control people, the outlet reported.
“There aren’t concentration camps in the United States, but there’s no question that conservatives feel threatened,” he said during a podcast interview in 2022, CNN reports. “There’s no questions that conservatives like myself and others feel like the government is being weaponized against us.”
He frequently derided Covid mandates, stating that vaccines did not stop the transmission of the disease. While the data is still being dissected, it is likely that vaccines reduce the risk of transmission in some people, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Christine has also cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election, echoing claims made by President Donald Trump and other administration officials. Additionally, he has pushed for banning abortion without exceptions for incest or rape, according to CNN.
In response to a request from the outlet, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said: “Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Christine remains focused on executing President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s agenda to Make America Healthy Again and deliver on President Trump’s Executive Order to protect our children against chemical and surgical mutilation.”
The Independent has contacted HHS for comment.
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