White House: Ronny Jackson Is Not Leaving His Post
The White House pushed back on reports that White House physician Ronny Jackson would not be returning to his role after a string of reports about his conduct led him to withdraw from consideration to head up the Department of Veterans Affairs.
On Sunday, Politico first reported that Jackson would remain within the medical unit of the White House, but he would not be serving as the president’s personal doctor going forward. The White House said Monday that it has no personnel changes to announce.
“Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson is currently on active duty, assigned to the White House as Deputy Assistant to the President,” said White House spokesperson Raj Shah. “Despite published reports, there are no personnel announcements at this time.”
Jackson’s selection took many by surprise given his lack of experience heading up a major organization—Veterans Affairs is the second-largest federal agency after the Pentagon.
But last week, the office of Montana Sen. John Tester, a Democrat, released a litany of allegations against Jackson, including claims that he was often drunk at work and overprescribed drugs.
Jackson denied the allegations, but withdrew from the nomination process. The Secret Service also came to Jackson’s defense, releasing a statement denying a report that officers had to intervene to stop Jackson from potentially disturbing President Obama while on an overseas trip.
Trump has defended Jackson and called for Tester, who is up for re-election, to resign.
Secret Service has just informed me that Senator Jon Tester’s statements on Admiral Jackson are not true. There were no such findings. A horrible thing that we in D.C. must live with, just like phony Russian Collusion. Tester should lose race in Montana. Very dishonest and sick!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2018
Allegations made by Senator Jon Tester against Admiral/Doctor Ron Jackson are proving false. The Secret Service is unable to confirm (in fact they deny) any of the phony Democrat charges which have absolutely devastated the wonderful Jackson family. Tester should resign. The.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2018
....great people of Montana will not stand for this kind of slander when talking of a great human being. Admiral Jackson is the kind of man that those in Montana would most respect and admire, and now, for no reason whatsoever, his reputation has been shattered. Not fair, Tester!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2018