Pence To Health Secretary Azar: Your Presence Is Not Requested
Pence To Health Secretary Azar: Your Presence Is Not Requested

Vice President Mike Pence visits Seattle Thursday as part of the Trump administration's coronavirus response.

But according to Politico, there will be one notable absence: health secretary Alex Azar.

The White House on Wednesday also benched Azar from a coronavirus task force press briefing.

It's the latest sign of diminished standing for an official who was the face of the U.S. response just a week ago.

The health secretary has in the last week emerged as a target inside and outside the administration.

Officials are looking to apportion blame for a U.S. outbreak that caught federal officials by surprise and has already claimed at least 11 lives.

One individual with knowledge of events said Pence asked Azar not to attend Wednesday's press conference.