US President Donald Trump has ditched his usual COVID-19 press conference, while his administration is considering sacking its secretary of Health and Human Services.
The US president has not held his daily COVID-19 briefing at the White House.
Donald Trump tweeted that it was not worth his time or effort.
"What is the purpose of having White House News Conferences when the Lamestream Media asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth or facts accurately," he tweeted.
"They get record ratings, & the American people get nothing but Fake News. Not worth the time & effort!"
His absence after weeks of attendance comes two days after he provoked outrage and ridicule by suggesting that coronavirus patients could be treated by injecting disinfectant.
The move comes as his administration considers sacking its secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, because of what it says was early mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
US media reported that frustration with Azar was growing but the administration was reluctant to make big changes while the country was trying to stop the virus.
A White House spokesperson said there was no plan to replace Azar and called talk of replacing him "speculation and a distraction."
The US has the most deaths or infections from the COVID-19 coronavirus of any country, with cases nearing a million and deaths over 53,000.
RNZ
