Dr. Scott Atlas, President Trump’s controversial special adviser on the coronavirus pandemic, resigned on Monday, according to a report.
Atlas was serving on the White House coronavirus task force on a 130-day Special Government Employee detail, and his role was set to expire this week.
In his resignation letter obtained by Fox News, Atlas said he worked hard to “save the lives and help Americans through this pandemic” and that he “always relied on the latest science and evidence, without any political consideration or influence.”
The radiologist, who joined the task force in August, is a known proponent of herd immunity in the fight against the coronavirus – a stance at odds with that of most health experts.
He was also criticized during his tenure for saying that lockdowns are “extremely harmful” to Americans, and came under fire earlier this month over a tweet that called for Michigan residents to “rise up” against public health measures in the state.
Atlas was later forced to clarify that he didn’t mean to “threaten or incite violence” but rather is just “not very good at Twitter.”
In his letter, Atlas touted the Trump administration’s work, including on “Operation Warp Speed,” the effort to rapidly mobilize the distribution of coronavirus vaccines and treatments.
He closed out by wishing the best to president-elect Joe Biden’s incoming team.
“With the emerging treatments and vaccines, I remain highly optimistic that America will thrive once again and overcome the adversity of the pandemic and all that it has entailed,” he wrote.