The Trump administration threatened to oust the head of the FDA if the Pfizer vaccine isn’t cleared by the end of Friday, new report says

The Trump administration threatened to oust the head of the FDA if the Pfizer vaccine isn’t cleared by the end of Friday, new report says

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows reportedly pressured FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn to announce the emergency authorization of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the day on Friday.

Meadows gave Hahn an ultimatum: Either move up the announcement or submit his resignation, according to The Washington Post.

This comes after President Donald Trump went after the agency on Twitter earlier in the morning, calling it "a big, old, slow turtle."

Hahn denied the Post's report shortly after it was published, calling it "untrue," while the White House declined to comment.

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The US Food and Drug Administration and Pfizer are reportedly trying to move up the announcement of the company's COVID-19 vaccine after White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows threatened the agency commissioner's job.

On Friday, Meadows delivered an ultimatum to the commissioner, Dr. Stephen Hahn, telling him to either make the announcement green lighting the vaccine by the end of the day or submit his resignation, according to The Washington Post.

Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump lashed out at the agency on Twitter , describing it "a big, old, slow turtle."

“”Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2020

Hahn denied the report, calling it "untrue" in