GoKawiilFDA nominee Overton contradicts Trump on MMR vaccine safety, dodges questions on his fallibility
Heidi Overton, Trump's nominee to lead the FDA, testified before the Senate health committee and repeatedly stated the MMR vaccine is safe and effective, directly contradicting Trump's earlier claim that it was 'quite lethal.' When Sen. Maggie Hassan pressed her on whether the president could ever be wrong, Overton avoided answering directly.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Overton's reluctance to criticize Trump even while contradicting his factual claims suggests the political pressure nominees face when their scientific views diverge from the administration's rhetoric. Her past opposition to abortion and current oversight of the FDA's mifepristone review raises questions, according to critics, about whether her personal views could shape agency decisions on reproductive health policy.
- Overton contradicted Trump's false claim that the MMR vaccine is 'quite lethal,' calling it safe and effective.
- She declined to directly answer whether President Trump could ever be wrong about something.
- Her nomination raises scrutiny over her stance on abortion amid the FDA's ongoing review of mifepristone's safety.
Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-09-25
Published there as: “Can Trump ever be wrong? His pick to lead FDA refused to say.”
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