08/31/20

President Trump on Monday questioned the value of Anthony Fauci to the White House coronavirus task force, saying in an interview with Fox News that he "inherited" the government's top infectious disease expert.

"I disagree with a lot of what he said," Trump told Laura Ingraham when asked if he would put Fauci "front and center" in the pandemic response if he could do it again.

"I get along with him, but every once in a while, he'll come up with one that I say, 'Where did that come from?'" Trump continued. "I inherited him. He was here. He was part of this huge piece of machine."

The president reiterated his claim that Fauci opposed his decision to restrict travel from China in January. Fauci indicated at the time he did not think it was a good idea, though he later said it had bought the U.S. time to fight the virus.

Trump has repeatedly undermined and criticized Fauci. Last month, he retweeted a message that said Fauci "has misled the American public on many issues, but in particular, on dismissing #hydroxychloroquine and calling Remdesivir the new gold standard." He also has said Fauci is a nice man but has "made a lot of mistakes."

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/514523-trump-knocks-fauci-i-inherited-him