Trump appoints controversial doctor Jay Bhattacharya to lead National Institutes of Health

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor, as the new director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This decision has sparked significant criticism due to Bhattacharya's controversial past views on public health. Bhattacharya co-authored the "Great Barrington Declaration," which opposed lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics argue that his stance on herd immunity and skepticism towards vaccines make him an unsuitable choice for the role. Trump stated that Bhattacharya will work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address major health challenges in the U.S. Critics on social media have labeled this appointment as a troubling development for public health policy.