New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan pressed FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton about President Donald Trump’s remarks on the MMR vaccine. The exchange came during Overton’s Senate confirmation hearing in Washington. Hassan repeatedly asked whether Trump was wrong after Overton called the vaccine safe and effective.
The questioning centered on Trump’s earlier statement about the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Hassan quoted him saying, “there could be a possibility they’re quite lethal.” She then asked Overton whether she believed the combined vaccine was potentially lethal.
Overton said the MMR vaccine “is safe and effective.” She called it the best available tool against the current measles outbreak. When Hassan asked whether Trump had been wrong, Overton did not directly answer. She instead said Trump seeks information from advisers and wants the best outcomes.
Hassan returned to the question and stressed the responsibility of an FDA leader. She said Americans need someone willing to tell a president when he is wrong. Overton again defended the vaccine without directly addressing Trump’s earlier remark. Hassan ended the exchange by saying, “He was wrong about that.”
Trump FDA Pick Heidi Overton Faces Backlash After Maggie Hassan MMR Exchange
The exchange drew sharp criticism from viewers who focused on Overton’s refusal to directly say Trump was wrong.
One user wrote, “Dear leader can never be wrong.” Another response said, “This woman is unworthy of ANY job. She cannot admit that humans make errors.” Others focused on how Overton handled Hassan’s repeated questioning. One user wrote, “They ignore the question and do the broken-record routine. It’s getting so old.”
A separate response stated, “The leader is considered right at all times. Even when he is objectively wrong.”
Overton’s nomination remains under Senate consideration following the hearing, but questions about how she would handle disagreements with the president remain unresolved. While she clearly stated that the MMR vaccine is safe and effective, her reluctance to directly say Trump was wrong became a major point of contention during the hearing. If confirmed, Overton would take charge of an agency responsible for decisions affecting the health of millions of Americans, meaning senators are likely to continue scrutinizing whether scientific evidence or political pressure would ultimately guide her leadership.
