US diabetes doctors ousted from conference over critique of Trump science cuts

Kahn outside conference centre. Credit: MedPage Today/X

By Daniel Pye

Several diabetes experts were escorted by police out of an influential diabetes conference in the United States after handing out copies of an editorial criticising Donald Trump’s cuts to science.

Researchers were handing out copies of a Diabetes Care piece at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions in New Orleans.

Among those who had to leave was Professor Steven Kahn, who is co-author of the editorial and the editor in chief of the journal, published by the ADA.

A video shared on X by MedPage Today, shows a tense encounter between the researchers and police and security staff.

One of the researchers in the video said their lanyards have been taken and they were not allowed back into the conference centre.

Kahn is holding copies of the editorial and at one point asks an officer for some of the papers back. At another point, an officer can be seen touching the arm of one of the scientists before they are all led out.