Dr. Simone Gold, the founder of America’s Frontline Doctors, exudes an air of intelligence and confidence. Clad in practical jeans and a cap-sleeve T-shirt, she possesses a youthful appearance despite her 57 years of age. Her porcelain-like skin appears even paler in the Florida sun. An impulsive decision to wear gold glitter nail polish adds an element of fun to her overall look. When she speaks, her confident and accelerated cadence demands attention, as if she’s saying, “Come on guys, we need to focus.” Despite her 5’8″ height, she gives off the impression of being shorter. Above all, Dr. Simone Gold appears as someone who has never been in trouble, until now.
From the windows of her $3.6 million home in Naples, Florida, Dr. Gold gazes out in an attempt to hold back tears. The weight of accusations hangs heavy on her conscience. “For the rest of my life, there will always be doubts about whether I’m a thief,” she confides, fixating on the palm trees lining the view. America’s Frontline Doctors, the non-profit organization she established to combat Covid-related restrictions, purchased this lavish house for her. She compares herself to Erin Brockovich, addressing the allegations that she stole from the people. “My core identity is centered around doing the right thing, so this is incredibly painful,” she laments.
The source of this pain can be traced back three years when Dr. Gold, an emergency room physician, Stanford Law School graduate, and mother from Beverly Hills, began challenging the medical establishment. Her fight against the establishment extended to the government and even her anti-establishment colleagues within the non-profit she had created. As we occupied ourselves with mundane hobbies like jigsaw puzzles and sourdough starters, Dr. Gold raised millions, engaged with US representatives, boldly entered the US Capitol on January 6th, spent six weeks in prison, and then proceeded to sue a reality-show boxer, a former Arizona sheriff, and a megachurch pastor, all of whom she had recruited to serve on the board of America’s Frontline Doctors.
Dr. Gold’s upbringing in Hewlett, New York, an affluent Jewish community in Long Island, laid the foundation for her career in medicine. Her father, a Holocaust survivor and doctor, made it clear that all three of his children would follow in his footsteps. Dr. Gold accomplished this feat at a remarkably young age, completing medical school by the age of 23 before pursuing her studies at Stanford. While juggling law school, she continued working as a doctor, primarily at an urgent care facility. Her social experiences were limited, with only a memory of going to a campus cafeteria with a classmate named Casey Cooper. When Cooper asked her out to dinner in Palo Alto, she declined the invitation.
Following her law degree, Dr. Gold specialized in the demanding field of emergency medicine, wherein decisions were based more on necessity than personal happiness. In 1999, she met and married a man from Los Angeles, with whom she had two children. Ultimately, their relationship ended in divorce. Driven by efficiency, she moved into a condo near Beverly Hills Synagogue, hoping to find a suitable Jewish partner. Then, the Covid pandemic struck. Dr. Gold’s initial reaction differed from most, as she found herself slightly excited, eagerly anticipating what would unfold. This enthusiasm aligned well with her role as an ER doctor. However, her sentiment changed as California implemented lockdown measures.
Prior to the pandemic, Dr. Gold had limited political involvement. She identified as pro-choice but held no strong pro or anti-stance on other matters. Recounting her voting history, she mentioned casting two votes for Bill Clinton, potentially one for Al Gore, and voting for whoever ran against Barack Obama, as she vehemently disliked Obamacare. This distaste for Obama and the media’s handling of the situation fueled her growing resentment towards the press. When Donald Trump emerged as a candidate who opposed Obamacare and expressed similar disdain for the media, Dr. Gold finally found a politician who excited her. In protest against the lockdowns, which both Trump and she opposed, Dr. Gold uploaded a video of Cedars-Sinai hospital to demonstrate that it was not overwhelmed with patients. In May 2020, she rallied over 500 doctors to sign an open letter to the president, warning of the potential “mass casualty incident” caused by lockdowns.
During the early stages of the pandemic, like many doctors, Dr. Gold prescribed hydroxychloroquine to her Covid patients. This medication, commonly used to prevent malaria in travelers, gained attention when Trump endorsed its effectiveness. However, after several studies raised doubts about its efficacy, the US Food and Drug Administration withdrew its emergency authorization. Although her patients seemed to recover after taking hydroxychloroquine, it was difficult to determine if the drug itself was responsible. Dr. Gold’s belief in its effectiveness led her to form America’s Frontline Doctors, a group composed of various medical experts who advocated for its use. In July 2020, they organized a summit in Washington, D.C., where Dr. Gold had the opportunity to meet Vice President Mike Pence, head of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force. A press conference held on the steps of the Supreme Court garnered immense attention, with millions of views within hours. However, major social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter swiftly removed the video for spreading misinformation. Despite facing backlash, Dr. Gold became both famous and infamous. The hospitals she worked for in California ceased allowing her to practice, resulting in her self-imposed exile.
I reached out to Dr. Gold a few weeks later to discuss her experience and emotions regarding the rejection from the institutions she had worked so hard to be a part of. I wondered if she felt depressed or regretful. Surprisingly, she found my questions confusing. She countered, saying, “From your leftist perspective, you believe I’m under attack. But everyone has been saying, ‘Thank you for saving us.’ People want to contribute financially. It has been incredibly uplifting.” She expressed a desire to continue the interview in person, but my apprehension about the pandemic prevented me from accepting. Dr. Gold, disappointed by my reluctance to meet without masks, empathized with the sacrifices made during the pandemic.
Dr. Gold’s mother, with whom she had always shared a close bond, disagreed with her daughter’s stance on Covid. The fundamental acceptance required to believe Dr. Gold was right necessitated accepting that everyone else was lying. One of Dr. Gold’s sons also struggled with accepting her viewpoint, as it created a world where distrust permeated every aspect of life. She shared this with me recently, emphasizing the difficulty in accepting a reality where deception was pervasive. Dr. Gold’s empathy for the sacrifices made by individuals like myself, who diligently adhered to Covid safety protocols, was evident. Her sympathetic tone and genuine sincerity almost made me want to believe that everything I and others had done to combat the virus was unnecessary. Serene and confident, Dr. Gold’s expertise and demeanor made me contemplate following her lead, despite any reservations I may have had.
Many people were swayed by Dr. Gold’s persuasive arguments, including John Strand, a model and singer who contributed $75 to her cause. He considered this a significant sum, given his circumstances of zero income and couch-surfing for the past decade. After delivering a speech on the Supreme Court steps, Dr. Gold appeared on Joni Lamb’s Christian television network, prompting viewers to donate more money, which was then matched by Lamb. The total sum… [Continues]
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