If there’s one sure way to stay in President Trump’s good graces, it’s a healthy dose of flattery.
Cabinet officials demonstrated that during last week’s three-hour televised meeting, where praise flowed nonstop. Now, Pfizer (PFE) chairman and CEO Dr. Albert Bourla is following the same playbook.
Bourla on Wednesday issued a statement defending Pfizer’s Covid vaccine data after Trump demanded drugmakers “justify the success of their various Covid Drugs” in a Truth Social post.
"I have been shown information from Pfizer, and others, that is extraordinary, but they never seem to show those results to the public," Trump wrote. "Why not???"
Trump himself got a booster shot during the pandemic and has repeatedly defended vaccines, even as many of his supporters booed him.
But with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. placing new limits on Covid vaccine eligibility last week — including requiring doctor consultations before pharmacy appointments — the politics around vaccines remain tangled.
Bourla’s balancing act
In his statement, Bourla leaned into transparency while sprinkling in high praise for Trump. He called Operation Warp Speed — an initiative that accelerated vaccine development under Trump’s first term — “a profound public health achievement.”
"Under President Trump's leadership, American innovation led the world, helping prevent economic collapse and saving more than 14 million lives globally," Bourla said.
He credited the program with restoring consumer confidence, saving $1 trillion in health care costs, and scaling up U.S. manufacturing capacity. Bourla also suggested the achievement “would typically be worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, given its significant impact.”
That last line wasn’t accidental. Trump has long complained about being snubbed for the Nobel and Bourla’s nod doubles as both flattery and strategic relationship management.
Transparency push
On the transparency front, Bourla provided a link to Pfizer’s vaccine studies, noting the company’s data has appeared in more than 600 peer-reviewed publications and has been reviewed by regulators in 130 countries.
It’s a clear attempt to push back against Trump’s charge that the results have been hidden from the public.
Although Pfizer stock slipped on Wednesday, this episode underscores how deeply political the vaccine issue remains even years after the pandemic.
Bourla is walking a tightrope, trying to reassure regulators and investors on transparency while keeping a mercurial president onside.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are markedmarked