Jack Shafer, a columnist for Politico, took to Twitter in response to a recent coronavirus briefing from members of President Trump’s team, drawing parallels between the uniforms worn by some members of the coronavirus team and those worn by members of the Heaven’s Gate cult.
Shafer first directed his aim at Surgeon General Jerome Adams and Health Department Assistant Secretary Brett Giroir, poking fun at their U.S. Public Health Service uniforms as he wrote, “Those uniforms make Jerome Adams and Brett Giroir look like members of the Heaven’s Gate cult.”
Continuing, he then shifted his mocking gaze to Deborah Birx, saying, “Deborah Birx’s outfit makes her look like the cult leader.”
As very little on the internet goes unnoticed or commented on, Shafer soon caught flak for his comments, with one Twitter user asked, “Vying for a fashion column on @VanityFair Jack?”
Another user highlighted the absurdity of Shafer’s comments, saying, “Ah yes, let’s take this time to fashion critique people who have been tasked with helping save this country from a pandemic.”
The final blow, though, was user Brian Swenson, who merely wrote, “Who are you?”