Dr. Scott Atlas, a highly controversial member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, has resigned from his post in the Trump administration.
Atlas, who had no formal experience in public health or infectious diseases, turned in his resignation letter to President Trump today.
In the letter, he wrote “I sincerely wish the new team all the best as they guide the nation through these trying, polarized times,” apparently referring to President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming coronavirus team.
A source close to the task force told CNN that Atlas’ departure comes as welcome news, as his discredited theories will no longer have a seat at the table.
Atlas’ months-long stint in the White House was marked by controversy as he became a close adviser to Trump on the pandemic, adopting public stances on the virus much closer to the President’s — including decrying the idea that schools cannot reopen this fall as “hysteria” and pushing for the resumption of college sports.
In one extraordinary episode in October, Twitter removed a tweet from Atlas that sought to undermine the importance of face masks because it was in violation of the platform’s Covid-19 Misleading Information Policy.
And earlier this month, he criticized coronavirus restrictions in Michigan, urging residents in the state to “rise up” against the measures.
The comments came weeks after officials thwarted an alleged domestic terrorism kidnapping plot against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who herself has been the subject of harsh criticism from the President and other Republicans amid the pandemic.
Atlas was not on a call Vice President Mike Pence held today with state leaders, according to a list of participants.