Dr James Phillips: Trump allegedly gets Walter Reed emergency doctor fired for criticizing his stunt
Back in October, Dr James Phillips at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center didn't exactly mince his words. He called President Trump’s decision to take his motorcade and Secret Service agents on a drive-by to wave at supporters waiting outside the hospital as "unnecessary and irresponsible". He also pointed out that the "hermetically sealed vehicle" posed a great risk to the other people driving with the infected president. Dr Phillips has now been taken off the Walter Reed schedule. He tweeted on Sunday, December 27, telling the world it was his last shift in the Walter Reed ER and that he "regrets nothing".
Today, I worked my final shift at Walter Reed ER. I will miss the patients and my military and civilian coworkers - they have been overwhelmingly supportive. I’m honored to have worked there and I look forward to new opportunities. I stand by my words, and I regret nothing.
— James P. Phillips, MD (@DrPhillipsMD) December 28, 2020
His tweet attracted mostly overwhelming support for standing up for what was right. "Thank you for your integrity. I hope our new commander-in-chief will ask you to return," said one user, while posting the original tweet (since deleted) that got Dr Phillips in trouble. Another user replied saying: "I find Walter Reed’s silence at Trump’s reprehensible joy ride to be shocking, alarming. Thank you for decrying such a stupid and dangerous political stunt in the middle of a pandemic. Wishing you the very best!" Congresswoman Jackie Speier tweeted: "His vengeance knows no bounds. @POTUS had Walter Reed fire a doctor for speaking truth to power. Dr. Phillips deserves the Medal of Freedom along w/many other truth-tellers, like Lt Col Alexander Vindman & Lt Col Yevgeny Vindman, who have pushed back on this toxic Administration."
Thank you for your integrity. I hope our new commander-in-chief will ask you to return. This was the tweet that so offended our toddler-in-chief: pic.twitter.com/izjTztJ253
— NC Sherry (@NCSherry35) December 28, 2020
I find Walter Reed’s silence at Trump’s reprehensible joy ride to be shocking, alarming. Thank you for decrying such a stupid and danger political stunt in the middle of a pandemic. Wishing you the very best!
— Kelly Vee 🇺🇸 (@KellyVee2) December 28, 2020
His vengeance knows no bounds. @POTUS had Walter Reed fire a doctor for speaking truth to power. Dr. Phillips deserves the Medal of Freedom along w/many other truth tellers, like Lt Col Alexander Vindman & Lt Col Yevgeny Vindman, who have pushed back on this toxic Administration. https://t.co/yZ4vzX9bQd
— Jackie Speier (@RepSpeier) December 28, 2020
As the chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University (GW University), Dr Phillips had been contracted to Walter Reed. Despite being removed from Walter Reed's schedule, he will continue his work at GW University's School of Medicine. A university colleague, Dr Jonathan Reiner, defended him, tweeting: "Dr Phillips spoke the truth, and the truth was uncomfortable for some people. He did nothing wrong. People who claim to be patriots should defend the 1st Amendment as vigorously as they defend the 2nd."
Dr Phillips spoke the truth, and the truth was uncomfortable for some people. He did nothing wrong. People who claim to be patriots should defend the 1st Amendment as vigorously as they defend the 2nd. https://t.co/sFX61hjhaG
— Jonathan Reiner (@JReinerMD) December 28, 2020
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center had commented earlier with a vague denial about how "no decision [was] made by anyone" at the hospital to remove Phillips from the schedule. "As you may know, Dr. Phillips worked as a contract employee at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), which provides requirements for contract employees to the contract agency," the hospital said in a statement. "The contract agency then works together with contract employees to determine individual schedules. There was no decision made by anyone at [Walter Reed National Military Medical Center] to remove Dr. Phillips from the schedule."
A former employee of Walter Reed, replying to Dr. Phillips' tweet about his last day said that Walter Reed facilitating the "revenge" was not surprising. "Having worked at Walter Reed I'm not surprised at military leadership kowtowing to their commander in chief's revenge. Any pushback could cost them future career advancement." One user following the story expressed displeasure about the Oval Office interfering in the operation of Walter Reed. "Dr Phillips is a victim of Trump's fascist view of speaking against him is not allowed. Agree with him or get fired," remarked another tweet, about how people who stood up to Trump were being fired.
Having worked at Walter Reed I'm not surprised at military leadership cowtowing to their commander in chief's revenge. Any push back could cost them future career advancement. Dr. Phillips is applauded for doing as John Lewis advised "When you see something wrong say something"
— Candace Schupay (@CandaceSchupay1) December 28, 2020
On the one hand, Joe Biden should ensure Dr. Phillips is given back his job at Walter Reed. On the other hand, the Oval Office shouldn’t be interfering in the operation of Walter Reed to begin with.
— Steve Redmond (@sjredmond) December 28, 2020
Dr Phillips is a victim of trump's fascist view of speaking against him is not allowed. Agree with him or get fired.
— Karen (@l_ackman) December 28, 2020
White House has not officially commented on the developing controversy even as news outlets and social media platforms are picking up on this latest dismissal that seems to be connected to Trump's displeasure at being criticized. At the time, White House spokesman Judd Deere said that a medical team had cleared Trump's plan for a brief motorcade tour and that those involved took safety precautions. Dr. Phillips' criticism showed that Trump might have wilfully ignored professional medical advice.