"President Donald Trump declined to answer whether or not he fired Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary on Tuesday afternoon while speaking to reporters before his trip to China. The president was asked by one reporter whether Makary quit or the president fired him. I don't want to say, Trump answered. But Marty's a great guy. Trump was asked the question shortly after The Washington Post reported Makary was resigning on Tuesday; that followed a report last week he was on thin ice with Trump."
"The president continued celebrating Makary to reporters for a moment, saying he was a great guy, a wonderful man, and a friend. Trump then said Makary was having some difficulty, without going into detail about what he meant. You know, he's a great doctor and he was having some difficulty, Trump reiterated. He may have been referring to the clash the two had over flavored vapes, which is what reportedly led to Trump preparing to fire Makary."
"Trump reportedly upbraided Makary during a meeting earlier this month for not moving fast enough in his view to approve flavored vapes and nicotine products. Advisers told the president that Makary has blocked Trump's vaping agenda and described the commissioner as a problem for the administration, The Wall Street Journal reported last week. Makary earlier bucked White House preferences by refusing to OK menthol, mango and blueberry vape flavors from Los Angeles manufacturer Glas."
"The president vowed to save vaping during his 2024 campaign. Flavored cartridge-based vapes have been banned by the FDA since 2020. States like New York and California have also banned most flavored vape and tobacco products. Makary had talked to Trump about pivoting away from his anti-flavored vape stance, according to the Journal report, but it wasn't clear whether Makary had changed his mind."
Trump declined to answer whether he fired FDA Commissioner Marty Makary as he spoke to reporters before a trip to China. When asked if Makary quit or was fired, Trump said he did not want to say, while calling Makary a great guy, a wonderful man, and a friend. Trump said Makary was having some difficulty and described him as a great doctor without providing details. The difficulty appears tied to disagreements over flavored vapes and nicotine products. Reports said Trump had been preparing to fire Makary after a clash over flavored vape approvals, including refusal to approve certain flavors from a Los Angeles manufacturer. Flavored cartridge vapes have been banned by the FDA since 2020, and several states have also restricted flavored vape and tobacco products.
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