Accuses FDA 'deep state' of slowing vaccine trials to hurt him politically

On August 22, 2020, Trump tweeted that "the deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA" was making it difficult for drug companies to enroll trial participants for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, and asserted the agency was "hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd," tagging FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn. No evidence supported the accusation; biotechnology executives and drug makers publicly rebutted it and praised the FDA's speed, warning against politicizing the approval process. The tweet framed career federal scientists as political saboteurs and pressed the agency to accelerate approvals ahead of the election; the following day the FDA announced an emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma. Public-health observers characterized the message as presidential pressure on an independent regulatory process for electoral benefit.

"The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives! @SteveFDA" Quote verified against source