Ocasio-Cortez: Pence ‘Not Qualified’ to Lead Coronavirus Effort — He ‘Literally Does Not Believe in Science’

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on Wednesday decried President Donald Trump’s appointment of Vice President Mike Pence to lead the administration’s effort to combat the potential spread of deadly Chinese coronavirus in the United States, claiming he is unqualified for the role.

“Mike Pence literally does not believe in science. It is utterly irresponsible to put him in charge of US coronavirus response as the world sits on the cusp of a pandemic,” the New York Democrat wrote on social media. “This decision could cost people their lives. Pence’s past decisions already have.”

Bill Gates Speaks Out on His Inclusion in Newly Released Epstein Documents

Noem vows criminal prosecution after catching alleged DHS ‘prolific leaker’

‘Melania’ Documentary Director Says ‘Divine Intervention’ Brought Him to the Surprise Hit Project

Anti-ICE activists plan to install 1,000 street blockades across Minneapolis

Putin and Trump plan dueling visits to China in battle to gain Xi’s favor

House GOP moves to block DC from stopping Trump tax cuts for tipped, overtime workers

Man accused of murdering National Guard member in DC pleads not guilty

Florida hospital worker allegedly stole wallet from 94-year-old patient, racked up $500 on credit cards

Breaking: Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Learns His Sentence

Border czar Tom Homan calls anti-ICE roadblocks in Minneapolis a ‘joke’ after police chief disbands them

Supreme Court shuts down California GOP bid to block Newsom’s new map

Watch: Scott Bessent Has Perfect Response When Maxine Waters Says ‘Shut Him Up’ During Hearing

Nine charged in bold gun-running scheme to push heavy firepower across southern border

Trump to conduct pre-game Super Bowl interview with NBC after playing hooky in 2018

Nicki Minaj cites higher suicide risks for opposition to transgender surgeries for minors

As governor, Pence’s science denial contributed to one of the worst HIV outbreaks in Indiana’s history.

He is not a medical doctor. He is not a health expert. He is not qualified nor positioned in any way to protect our public health.
https://t.co/1jVY44p2HF

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 27, 2020

Ocasio-Cortez then shared an article in which Pence is accused of enabling an HIV outbreak in Indiana under his governorship, writing: “As governor, Pence’s science denial contributed to one of the worst HIV outbreaks in Indiana’s history.”

“As governor, Pence’s science denial contributed to one of the worst HIV outbreaks in Indiana’s history,” she added. “He is not a medical doctor. He is not a health expert. He is not qualified nor positioned in any way to protect our public health.”

President Trump announced hours before Ocasio-Cortez’s comments that Pence will lead the U.S.’s response to the virus. During the press briefing, the president said the illness’s spread is not inevitable and that citizens that have been diagnosed with it are doing “very well.”

“Of the 15 people… eight of them have returned to their homes, to stay at their homes until they’re fully recovered. One is in the hospital, five have fully recovered and one we think is in pretty good shape,” he said. “In almost all cases, they’re getting better.”

President Trump also confirmed the U.S. has ordered additional masks to fight the spread of the disease and warned businesses against price gauging on protective products. He then expressed optimism about a bipartisan congressional effort to secure funding to fight the illness after requesting $2.5 billion on Monday.