The View’s Sunny Hostin excoriated Dr. Deborah Birx, saying the White House Coronavirus Task Force member is contributing to problems in combating the pandemic.
During Monday’s show, the hosts discussed President Trump’s wondering whether disinfectants or UV light could be used to prevent the virus. The president’s comments, which he later claimed were meant sarcastically, took place during last Thursday’s White House briefing, following a presentation from William Bryan, the head of science at the Department of Homeland Security.
The hosts of The View criticized Birx for failing to correct Trump in the moment and warn about the dangers of digesting or injecting disinfectants.
“I do think she’s part of the problem, and it gives me no pleasure to say that,” Hostin stated, later adding, “I believe at this point, Dr. Birx is complicit in what’s going on because when there are times like this, good people with integrity need to stand up and need to speak truth to power. You can’t be complicit in a time like this, Dr. Birx, and so I think she has become part of the problem.”
She added, “I know that she has had a storied career, but at this point, she is losing her integrity, and I — I’m really surprised and disappointed in Dr. Birx. Very, very disappointed.”
Whoopi Goldberg echoed that sentiment during a different segment on the show, arguing that the people “needed Dr. Birx to get up and say, ‘No, sir.’”
“It could have been respectful. But someone needed to say, ‘No, sir. No one can ingest bleach. No one.’ And that, for me, would have been a big sign that somebody was looking out,” Goldberg explained.
Meghan McCain, a frequent contrarian to the other hosts, sympathized with Birx and the other medical professionals assisting the White House.
“[They’re] being put in a completely untenable situation,” McCain offered, “They’re doing the best they can. Try to think of yourself in that situation. They’re trying to help the American public, and there’s only so much controlling that people — anyone can do with President Trump.”
Birx addressed the president’s comments during an interview on Sunday, saying that Trump was simply “musing” and that it’s time to “move on” from the controversy.
