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NIH chief blames media, Biden; declines Trump autism probe comment

8/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), blamed the media and the Biden administration for eroding trust in health officials.
He said the distrust was not caused by U.S. President Donald Trump or Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but by misinformation and mask mandates.
He declined to comment on a U.S. President Donald Trump executive order to study an autism-vaccine link, urging reporters to ask the president.

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Story summary

Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), blamed the media and the Biden administration for eroding trust in health officials.
He said the distrust was not caused by U.S. President Donald Trump or Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but by misinformation and mask mandates.
He declined to comment on a U.S. President Donald Trump executive order to study an autism-vaccine link, urging reporters to ask the president.