Pfizer Exec Booed During White House Appearance as Trump Calls Pharma Head 'Great Businessman'

President Donald Trump's introduction of a Pfizer executive at the White House Wednesday was met with a roar of boos from the crowd.

At Thursday's Black History Month reception at the White House, Trump welcomed Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, calling him "one of the great people" and "one of the great businessmen." The crowd's reaction was less than welcoming, with the audience loudly booing Bourla upon his introduction.

With a contained chuckle and a stern look, Trump moved on from Bourla—who is of Greek and Jewish descent—to introduce prominent Black Americans in the room.

The negative response comes amid ongoing public skepticism toward healthcare executives, a sentiment exacerbated by last year's assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. In a portion of Trump's MAGA base, some pushback to Pfizer in particular stems from objections to the COVID-19 vaccine and its distribution.

The negative reception at the White House event serves as a reminder of the challenges healthcare companies face in rebuilding public trust, even as they collaborate closely with government officials.