The desire to avoid Trump/make Trump look bad/bolster his enemies was THE DRIVING FORCE at the upper levels of US Public Health policy in the Spring and Summer of 2020.
I saw it with my own eyes.
If something good was to be done, but it would “help” Trump, it was blocked. If something wrong was to be done, as long as it hurt Trump, it was full speed
Also remember that the presidential election was held on November 3, the Pfizer announcement of their vaccine was November 9 and Moderna a few days later. I have absolutely no doubt that the timing of these announcements was designed to deny Trump an election boost. Trump had said several times he expected to have a vaccine before the election. I believe they withheld the news in order to harm Trump's reelection chances. One of Trump's stated goals was to reduce the prices of prescription drugs which made him very unpopular with drug makers, that would have threatened their profit margins. Waiting on the vaccine announcements was designed to help get him defeated.