President Trump had called me the previous day and asked me to come to Washington to meet with him. He wanted to discuss the unfolding crisis and get my take on the outlook. Trump had taken an interest in my work at the FDA and had supported my efforts to rein in teen use of tobacco products, to advance policies that promoted generic drug competition, and other public health initiatives. I had stayed in touch with senior White House staff and was grateful to the president for the active support he showed me when I served as his FDA commissioner.
