Public Health — News & Analysis

Penile implant specialist with history of far-right comments led hantavirus presser (May 15, 2026)

May 15, 2026 — Dr. Brian Christine, an Alabama urologist specializing in penile implants who now serves as Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was appointed to help lead the federal response to a hantavirus outbreak and appeared at a press conference in Nebraska assuring the public that the government’s actions would be “grounded in science” and “grounded in transparency.”

Christine assumed the role last November after moving directly from private medical practice into a senior federal health leadership position, despite having limited experience in public health or infectious disease policy. In his current role he oversees offices responsible for family planning, women’s health, infectious disease policy, and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the uniformed public-health service of more than 5,000 officers deployed during national health emergencies. As head of the service, he holds the rank of four-star admiral.

Christine’s appointment has drawn scrutiny because of his prior political commentary and public statements, many of which were made during a 2022 campaign for the Alabama state Senate and on a podcast he hosted titled “Common Sense.” A review of archived podcasts, radio appearances, and social-media activity shows Christine repeatedly framed public-health institutions and pandemic policies as tools used by the government to control citizens or target conservatives and religious Americans. He also hosted a professional YouTube series called “Erection Connection,” aimed at fellow urologists and focused on erectile dysfunction and penile implant procedures.

Several of Christine’s public statements have been controversial, including:

• Questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 U.S. presidential election and promoting the debunked election-fraud film “2000 Mules.”
• Claims that COVID-19 vaccines did not prevent infection or transmission, despite evidence that vaccination prevented millions of deaths worldwide.
• Assertions that pandemic policies were used to control Americans or influence the 2020 election outcome.
• Suggestions that the pandemic response may have been connected to a global effort involving George Soros, the World Economic Forum, and the so-called “Great Reset.”
• Comparisons suggesting actions by the Biden administration resembled developments in Nazi Germany, though he said the U.S. lacked concentration camps.

Christine has also been outspoken on abortion and social policy. He defended Alabama’s near-total abortion ban following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, arguing the law should include no exceptions for rape or incest because he believes abortion constitutes “another act of violence.” Social-media activity from a now-deleted account also showed support for efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, including retweeting a call from conservative activist Charlie Kirk urging Republicans to object to the certification of electoral votes on January 6, 2021, and interacting with Vernon Jones, a politician who later promoted election-fraud claims.

Since taking office, Christine has aligned with the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda and has led efforts to restrict federal funding for gender-affirming medical care. Reporting has noted apparent tension between those policies and references on his former practice website indicating treatment for erectile dysfunction in transgender patients, though Christine denied that characterization. Despite controversy surrounding his past comments and limited public-health background, officials at HHS say he remains focused on executing the administration’s policies and directing the government’s public-health response, including the hantavirus outbreak.