Federal prosecutors are looking into claims that Pfizer might have waited to share good news about its Covid vaccine until after the 2020 election. This comes after a tip from a rival drug company, GSK, said a former Pfizer scientist told them the results were ready earlier. The Trump administration had pushed hard for a vaccine, but Pfizer’s announcement didn’t come until days after Biden was declared the winner.
Back in 2020, Pfizer’s vaccine was the first to get approved in the West. But the company says it moved as fast as possible. Critics argue the timing helped Biden by making it look like Trump couldn’t deliver the vaccine quickly. Trump has long claimed Pfizer played politics to hurt his reelection. Now, with Trump back in office, the Justice Department is reopening the case.
GSK told investigators that Pfizer knew the vaccine worked before Election Day but held back. The whistleblower, a former Pfizer scientist named Philip Dormitzer, later worked at GSK. He denies the claims, saying his team did everything to get the vaccine approved ASAP. Pfizer calls the allegations “utter nonsense” and says the timeline was driven by science, not politics.
The vaccine race was a big deal during the pandemic. Trump’s Operation Warp Speed poured billions into development, but Pfizer didn’t take federal money upfront. Instead, they signed a $2 billion deal to supply doses if the vaccine worked. Some conservatives say delaying the announcement robbed Trump of a win, while Biden got credit for rolling it out.
Big Pharma’s role in politics is under scrutiny again. GSK and Pfizer are rivals, and this isn’t the first time they’ve clashed. GSK merged with Pfizer’s healthcare division in 2019 but split off later. Now, GSK’s decision to pause diversity programs under Trump’s pressure shows how companies adjust to shifting political winds.
Trust in vaccines took a hit during the pandemic, partly due to misinformation online. But this case isn’t about science—it’s about timing. If Pfizer really delayed the news, it would mean putting politics over public health. Many Americans already doubt Big Pharma, and this probe fuels those suspicions.
The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office is leading the investigation. They’ve interviewed GSK execs and plan more talks. So far, Pfizer hasn’t been asked to testify. Legal experts say proving a delay was intentional will be tough. Without hard evidence, this might end up as another partisan battle.
Conservatives see this as proof the “deep state” and corporate giants collude against them. With Trump back in power, his allies are pushing to hold Pfizer accountable. Whether the investigation finds wrongdoing or not, it keeps the 2020 election drama alive—and reminds voters why they distrust the ruling class.
