Trump Medical Advisor Apologizes in Interview with Russian State Media... "I Was Used"

Interview with Russian State Media Russia Today (RT)
"Lockdown Measures Kill People" Statement... US CDC Refutes

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Dr. Scott Atlas, medical advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump and a member of the White House's COVID-19 Task Force, has sparked controversy after it was revealed that he gave an interview to the Russian state media outlet Russia Today (RT). In particular, during the interview, he claimed that the health authorities' lockdown measures are actually causing deaths, prompting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to refute his statements, escalating the fallout.

According to foreign media including CNN on the 1st (local time), Dr. Atlas posted a tweet on his Twitter account apologizing for the interview with RT, the Russian state media. Atlas stated, "I was unaware that RT was registered as a foreign agent and regret having done the interview," adding, "I apologize to the national security community for allowing myself to be used." The United States requires all governments, individuals, and organizations that influence its policies or public opinion to register as foreign agents. RT is owned by RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency, and RT's U.S. entity is registered with the U.S. Department of Justice as a foreign agent of the Russian government.

The content of the interview has also caused significant repercussions. In the approximately 27-minute interview, Dr. Atlas said, "The U.S. authorities' lockdown measures are killing many people," and "This is making children nervous. College students are committing suicide due to the lockdown measures." It is reported that Dr. Atlas did not receive approval from the Trump administration for the interview, and White House aides had expressed concerns about it.

The CDC issued a statement directly refuting Dr. Atlas's interview claims as false. The CDC explained, "While it is true that the number of 18-24-year-old students contemplating suicide increased during June, this is not due to lockdown policies as Dr. Atlas suggested." The U.S. lockdown measures related to COVID-19 had been lifted since May 9.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), sharply criticized Dr. Atlas and President Trump for downplaying the risks of COVID-19. In an interview with The Washington Post (WP), Dr. Fauci described Dr. Atlas as "a cunning person who talks without insight, knowledge, or experience." He further criticized President Trump, saying, "The focus of the president and senior staff on economic recovery has significantly undermined the position of the White House COVID-19 Task Force, which emphasized public health."

The White House immediately rebutted Dr. Fauci's remarks. White House spokesperson Judd Deere stated in a statement sent to WP, "Dr. Fauci has shown his political leanings by criticizing the president in the media and praising the opposing candidate," adding, "It is difficult to accept that Dr. Fauci, who has praised the president's COVID-19 response until now, is engaging in political behavior ahead of the election."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.