Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, has been the voice of reason lately, offering facts during the daily COVID-19 press briefings while having to stand alongside Donald Trump, who has been blurting out inane remarks amid the pandemic. During an interview with Science magazine, Fauci opened up about his frustrations on working with the former frozen steak salesman.
Fauci was asked about having to stand in front of the country as “the representative of truth and facts” when “things are being said that aren’t true and aren’t factual,” and his response was blunt.
“I can’t jump in front of the microphone and push him down,” Fauci said in reference to the president. “Okay, he said it. Let’s try and get it corrected for the next time.”
Fauci also said when asked that he will never call coronavirus the “Chinese virus,” a term Trump uses occasionally to create more division and distraction.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
When asked how he has managed not to get fired, Fauci said that to Trump’s credit, “even though we disagree on some things, he listens.”
However, he added that Trump has expressed remarks “in a way that I would not express it, because it could lead to some misunderstanding about what the facts are about a given subject.”
In an incredible moment during Friday’s press conference, Fauci literally facepalmed when Trump referred to the Department of Justice as the “deep State Department,” and when asked whether he was criticized for that, he said, “No comment.”
The interview ended on this note, displaying how busy Fauci is.
Q: Right now, why do we have a travel ban on visitors from China when there are few cases in China other than imported cases? What’s the logic?
A: I’m sorry. I was just looking at two text messages, one from a governor and one from the White House. I gotta get off.”
While the nation is comforted by Fauci when he’s at the podium during the daily press briefings, the rest of us are left wondering when he will be fired for sticking to facts instead of backing up the president’s conspiracy theories. Apparently, those concerns are warranted.
Dr. Fauci is about to be quarantined. https://t.co/PDvmWTiNh5
— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) March 23, 2020
According to the New York Times, the president has become frustrated with Fauci over his blunt approach, “which often contradicts things the president has just said, according to two people familiar with the dynamic.” The outlet reports that Trump is aware that Fauci is seen as credible to the public, “so he has given him more leeway to contradict him than he has other officials.”
Fauci’s calm and frank demeanor is indeed comforting during the crisis. In contrast, Donald Trump is on a tweeting rampage each day to lash out at the world while displaying how incapable he is in dealing with the pandemic. If Trump fires Fauci, there’s really no point in watching the daily COVID-19 pressers anymore.
Featured image via screen capture
Like what you see here? Join the discussion on Facebook over at Americans For Sanity!
