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Surgeon General Jerome Adams and Fox News host Chris Wallace sparred today over Adams’s choice of words during a Sunday interview on the pandemic shutdown. The conversation provoked an unusual amount of mudslinging online between the two sides of the political aisle.

During the conversation, Adams defended the fact that nine states have not issued shut down orders, and likened the coronavirus to cigarette smoking. Wallace leaped on that comment, saying one is done by choice, the other acquired.

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Adams fell into word salad by talking about a report on tobacco cessation released earlier this year. “And we know that states have different laws there. And more people will die, even in the worst projections, from cigarette smoking in this country than are going to die from — from coronavirus this year. And so we always are struggling with trying to get information out to guide people that we know will help them be healthy with states’ rights.”

Wallace countered, “But, Doctor — but, Dr. Adams, there’s a big difference between opioids and cigarettes, which are something that people decide to use or not to use, and the coronavirus, which people catch. It’s not an individual choice. And, you know, when President Trump says that he’s a wartime president, during World War II, FDR didn’t say, “Well, it’s up to each state to decide what to do.” He mobilized the nation. Again, why not a national stay-at-home order? The coronavirus doesn’t recognize states’ rights, so does the federal analogy really work here?

Adams said the governors were intensely protective of their rights. “Well, Chris, I know we could go forever in coronavirus time. But I would remind people that it was just a week ago when the idea of a federal quarantine for the New York City area was being floated, and Governor Cuomo said that would be like declaring war on the state. The governors are intensely protective of their right, and rightly so, to be able to decide what’s best for their states. And we’re going to do everything we can as scientists and as physicians, as medical professionals, to help them understand what we think the right thing is for them to do.”

Some of the online reactions:

You'd think the Surgeon General could come up with a better analogy to coronavirus deaths than deaths from cigarette smoking. Thankfully, we still have journalists like Chris Wallace to call these guys out on their bullshit. https://t.co/pap0YDd4h4 — BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) April 5, 2020





Jerome Adams informs Chris Wallace that more people will die from smoking than coronavirus. Remember that time cigarette smoke shut down the economy, trapped people at home & flooded emergency rooms beyond capacity? The Trump WH is filled with incompetent clowns. #HowWeGotHere — May Brian (@mabri1741) April 5, 2020





He sounds like Mike Tyson — Juju (@juju_bad) April 5, 2020





Wallace for the win on the messaging too… "You Governors use the National Guard, we're here to back you up with the United States Armed Forces." -FDR channelling Trump. — Jeff Childers (@casey3771) April 5, 2020





Lmfao,I live in Nebraska,one of the 9 states,of all people who ARE isolated are the farmers"food producers."A good majority of farmers live 30 plus minutes from town traveling once or twice a monthfor grocery etc.Farming is a demanding 24 hour a day job especially with livestock. — MRAY (@OwendMachellr) April 5, 2020





I wonder what the surgeon general warning will be on a pack of #coronavirus

Comment below — TrumpKnewTurk182 (@KnewTrump) April 5, 2020





Maybe his analogy was wrong but Chris Wallace did know that the Governer and the mayor of New york in Jan and Feb did not set out an alarm only in March did they start saying things

Now should our President have a national order to stay home in all states ?? — Steve Adams (@SteveAd13487346) April 5, 2020





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