University of Minnesota infectious disease researcher Michael Osterholm, who’s been among the national leaders when it comes to dealing with the coronavirus, is speaking out against President Trump’s decision to leave isolation and drive by supporters in a sealed-in vehicle.
“If I had to pick the worst-case scenario to try to transmit the virus to somebody in an intentional basis, I would plan exactly what they did,” Osterholm told Dave Lee on the WCCO Morning News, adding that he’s not alleging any kind of devious plot to purposely sicken secret service agents.
“I don’t care if that person in the vehicle is a Democrat or a Republican or a Martian,” said Osterholm. “It doesn’t matter to me. That was a very dangerous move.”
Trump is considered still infectious, but he left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday riding in the black SUV with with windows rolled up.
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He was seen waving to supporters who’ve been gathering outside the hospital in Bethesda, Md. since the president was taken there by his Marine One helicopter from the White House.
Secret service agents were seen inside the vehicle with the president, all wearing masks and other protective gear.
“We can’t take this virus for granted, it’s going to do what it’s going to do,” Osterholm said. “Yesterday was one of the worst examples I have ever seen of exposing people needlessly to a potentially fatal virus.”
A White House spokesman said the president’s trip outside the hospital was cleared by the medical team as safe to do, with special precautions taken such as using personal protective equipment to protect the president and the agents.