The White House has modified some government websites previously dedicated to providing information on COVID-19 by replacing them with a newly introduced page focusing on the debated theory suggesting that the pandemic resulted from a virus leakage from a Chinese government laboratory. Former federal websites, such as covid.gov and covidtests.gov, which offered the public essential data on COVID-19, including vaccines, treatment, and testing, now redirect users to a new page titled “Lab Leak. The True Origins of COVID-19.”
The lab leak hypothesis posits that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID, emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, situated in Wuhan, China, and subsequently spread globally. This theory contrasts with conflicting reports from federal agencies and a House investigation completed in December, which leaned towards a lab leak as the probable cause. Nevertheless, numerous scientists suggest that the virus likely originated naturally from a wild animal and transitioned to humans in a Wuhan wildlife market.
The new webpage prominently features an image of President Trump and criticizes the Biden administration’s pandemic response, including measures like masks, lockdowns, and social distancing. The White House explicitly criticized public health officials for what they termed misleading communication and lack of transparency, particularly concerning alternative treatments and theories like the lab leak.
The page also criticizes Dr. Anthony Fauci for his leadership role during the pandemic and discusses President Biden’s decision to pardon him. Dr. Fauci, while celebrated by many for his work during the pandemic, also faced criticism for the government’s handling of the crisis.
In a response to an inquiry from NPR regarding the redirection of covid.gov and covidtests.gov to the new page, White House spokesperson Kaelan Dorr emphasized the administration’s commitment to transparency. This sentiment was echoed by Jamie Metzl, a critic of the wildlife spillover hypothesis, who voiced support for efforts to thoroughly investigate COVID-19’s origins but cautioned against distractions from ongoing public health efforts.
The new website has attracted criticism from some in the scientific community, who perceive it as politically motivated. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan, pointed out that the page’s arguments supporting the lab leak theory were misleading or incorrect. Meanwhile, Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona, remarked on the lack of scientific evidence supporting the lab leak scenarios and emphasized the risk associated with bringing live animals with pandemic potential into major cities.
House Representative James Comer of Kentucky expressed support for the Trump administration’s transparency with the new site, stating that President Trump is right to inform Americans about the pandemic’s origins.
