Donald Trump continues to face polling losses, coupled with a struggling economy. To amend his rundown reputation, the president is now cranking up pressure on administration health officials to hasten work on a coronavirus vaccine, as well as on treatments that might convince voters that the pandemic is coming to an end, in a bid to boost his re-election bet.

Trump has used his public appearances and as well as private prodding to push for more good news on the pandemic, insisting that even developments considered insignificant by health experts to be touted as major announcements for which he can take credit. He is relying on the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for the biggest announcement.

FDA officials suggest the tension is real, as the federal agency faces the most decisive official moments in its tenure since it was established more than a hundred years ago. Several sources familiar with the internal workings, who spoke to CNN, claim the responsibility feels massive, comparing the environment with a pressure cooker.

Last week, FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn had to apologize for a highly publicized plasma announcement. Aside from that, Hahn fired a recently appointed communications aide and received strong criticism from the West Wing.

This does not coincide with the situation earlier this year, when Hahn, who Trump is now pressuring for a COVID-19 vaccine, wasn't even a part of his original coronavirus task force. His name wasn't included even when Vice President Mike Pence revealed the second round of officials to the task force.

Five weeks after the group was formed, Hahn was announced as a formal task force member. Just six months after his appointment, Hahn finds himself in the middle of what experts and officials tout as a full-on press to make a silver bullet that can put an end to this crisis and boost the president's re-election bid.

In meetings throughout the spring and summer, Trump has pressed officials to expedite their timeline for making a vaccine, according to administration officials. The president is bent on being able to deliver at least a reliable promise of an effective vaccine before the Election Day, the administration officials said.

Those efforts have become intense with Election Day just around the corner. Trump has repeatedly complained that some FDA officials are delaying coronavirus vaccine trials and putting his re-election chances in jeopardy with slow-walking announcements that might hint at forwarding momentum.