A top White House health official has admitted to visiting family for Thanksgiving after repeatedly warning against traveling for the holiday.
Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, went to one of her vacation properties on Fenwick Island, in Delaware, accompanied by three generations of her family from two different households, the Associated Press reported.
Birx told the outlet: “I did not go to Delaware for the purpose of celebrating Thanksgiving.” She said they did share a meal while at the house during the roughly 50-hour visit.
Birx said everyone on the trip was part of her “immediate household,” even though they live in two different houses.
The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Both health officials called on Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving.
On CBS' “Face the Nation” on Nov. 29, in an interview from Delaware, Birx said some Americans had traveled to different states for Thanksgiving.
“Some people may have made mistakes over the Thanksgiving time period,” she said. “So if you’re young and you gathered, you need to be tested about five to 10 days later. But you need to assume that you’re infected and not go near your grandparents and aunts and others without a mask.”
The Associated Press said it found out about the details of Birx’s situation from Kathleen Flynn, whose brother is married to Birx’s daughter.
“She cavalierly violated her own guidance,” Flynn said of Birx.
A number of other officials have violated their own advice this year, including Fauci, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
