The Alabama urologist now leading America’s hantavirus response once hosted a show called ‘Erection Connection’ and compared Biden to Nazi Germany

At a recent press conference in Nebraska, Dr. Brian Christine, the Assistant Secretary for Health at the US Department of Health and Human Services, reassured Americans that the hantavirus outbreak posed little risk to the public. He promised a response “grounded in science” and “grounded in transparency.” But a closer look at Christine’s background shows a long history of far-right comments and conspiracy theories.

Before joining the Trump administration last year, Christine was an Alabama-based urologist who specialized in penile implants. He has little experience in public health. He has compared the Biden administration to Nazi Germany, suggested the Covid vaccine had little effect in stopping the pandemic, and argued that the pandemic was used by the government to control Americans and influence the outcome of the 2020 election.

Christine also hosted a YouTube show called Erection Connection, a professional series on erectile dysfunction aimed at fellow urologists, according to CNN. Beyond that, he has repeatedly framed public health institutions, the federal government, and pandemic-era policies as tools used to target conservatives and religious Americans.

Christine’s far-right record goes deeper than what was first reported during his nomination

A CNN review of archived podcast episodes, social media posts, and radio appearances uncovered more of Christine’s far-right commentary, beyond what The Washington Post had already reported during his nomination process. He has advocated for abortion bans without exceptions for rape or incest. 

He has also suggested that there may have been a worldwide effort involving George Soros and figures tied to the World Economic Forum’s “Great Reset” to use the pandemic to force small businesses to close. Christine’s Twitter account also showed strong engagement with MAGA activism, including efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

He retweeted a call from conservative activist Charlie Kirk urging Republicans to object to the election results on January 6, 2021.  His account also showed repeated engagement with Vernon Jones, the former Georgia Democratic state representative who switched parties to support Donald Trump and later backed 2020 election fraud claims.

Alabama has also been in the news for other reasons lately, as a former Alabama player caught up in a major fraud case made headlines after entering a surprising plea in court. Christine’s senior role at HHS puts him in charge of offices responsible for family planning, women’s health, infectious disease policy, and the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. As head of the Public Health Service, he also serves as a four-star admiral. 

Since taking the role, he has led efforts to restrict gender transition care through federal blocks on funding, even though his private practice office had advertised treatment for transgender people with erectile dysfunction. Meanwhile, political shifts in the South are also drawing attention, as Alabama and other states redrawing House districts could hand Republicans up to 13 new seats before the midterms.

In a statement, Andrew Nixon, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Media Relations at HHS, said, “Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Christine remains focused on executing President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s agenda to Make America Healthy Again and deliver on President Trump’s Executive Order to protect our children against chemical and surgical mutilation.

“The CDC has said there are no known cases of hantavirus in the United States as of Friday. However, officials are monitoring at least 41 people across 16 states who may have been exposed to the virus, reports NBC News. Half of those people are isolating at home, while the other half are being monitored at a hospital in Omaha and at a medical center in Kansas City.