Joe Rogan Experience #2534 - Annie Jacobsen · Aired Jul 31, 2026
Claim summary · not a verbatim quotation
Admiral Brett Giroir was the number two official at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The finding
What the evidence shows
Giroir wasn't the department's number two official. He served as Assistant Secretary for Health during the pandemic, while Eric Hargan held the actual number two job, Deputy Secretary of HHS, for the entire Trump administration including throughout COVID.
Read the supporting source · en.wikipedia.org ↗Quick answer & review status
Quick answer
Is it true that Admiral Brett Giroir was the number two official at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the COVID-19 pandemic?
No, not as stated. Giroir wasn't the department's number two official. He served as Assistant Secretary for Health during the pandemic, while Eric Hargan held the actual number two job, Deputy Secretary of HHS, for the entire Trump administration including throughout COVID. Annie Jacobsen said it (matched by voice) on Joe Rogan Experience #2534 - Annie Jacobsen, aired Jul 31, 2026, at 1:41:44. The supporting source is en.wikipedia.org, linked below.
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