Doctor who criticized Trump parade works last day at Walter Reed

An emergency room doctor at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has been removed from his post after publicly criticizing US President Donald Trump's "stunt" around the hospital after his coronavirus diagnosis.

Doctor James Phillips, 42, had described the Trump "drive-by" parade after catching the coronavirus in October as proof of the outgoing president's “insanity”.

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'I regret nothing'

Phillips, who had revealed back then that every single person in Trump's vehicle during that high risk drive-by might get sick or may even die, did his last shift at the hospital on Sunday and tweeted that he would "miss the patients" and thanked hospital staff for their support, US media reported on Monday.

He wrote in a tweet that he was honored to have worked there and looked forward to new opportunities.

He said that he stood by his words -- most probably referring to his strong criticism of Trump's irresponsible behavior during his stay at the hospital -- adding that he had nothing to regret in this regard.

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

6:22 PM - 27 Dec 2020

In response to media inquiries about Phillips removal from the schedule, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center claimed there had been "no decision made by anyone" at the hospital to have Phillips removed.

The top US military hospital made it unclear why Phillips, who also worked as a CNN Medical Analyst, had been removed from his job at Walter Reed.

In an October tweet that has since been deleted, Phillips had called the President's drive-by "completely unnecessary" and said Trump put lives at risk for "political theater".

"That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack," he tweeted then. 
"The risk of COVID19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures. The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play."

"Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential 'drive-by' just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity," Phillips asserted.

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Phillips, who is an Assistant Professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences had been contracted to Walter Reed which is located in Bethesda, Maryland... Phillips will now continue his work as a faculty member and scientist at George Washington School of Medicine.

Walter Reed is a military hospital serving the National Capital Region, providing care for service members and their families as well as the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, Justices of the Supreme Court and, on occasion, foreign military and embassy personnel.

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