GoKawiilMarty Makary on Tuesday resigned from his role as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, days after news broke on Friday that the White House had signed off on plans to fire him.
Trump confirmed Makary’s resignation on social media, posting an image that appears to show that Makary resigned from his role over a text message. The text message begins “Dr. President Trump[sic], Please accept my resignation, effective today.”
Trump wrote in another social media post that Makary had “done a great job at the FDA,” and that he was “a hard worker, who was respected by all, and will go on to have an outstanding career in Medicine.”
Trump ended by announcing that Kyle Diamantas, the top food regulator at the FDA, will serve as acting commissioner for now.
Trump’s positive review of Makary stands in contrast to the news last week. As administration insiders were widely broadcasting plans for Makary’s ouster on Friday, they offered a long list of issues and instances in which Makary was at odds with the White House. And, according to those close to Makary who spoke with The New York Times today, the now-former commissioner had his own reasons for departing.
Complaints
Makary’s insiders said the former Johns Hopkins University cancer surgeon resigned after Trump forced his hand on authorizing fruit-flavored e-cigarettes. Makary had reportedly been resisting the sign-offs out of concern that the kid-friendly flavors could again entice youth use and addiction—something public health officials and experts have for years worked to combat. But Makary’s stance was in conflict with Trump’s “save vaping” campaign promise—and with the tobacco industry’s interests.