As the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the country, recent reporting has suggested that President Donald Trump is trying to sideline Dr. Anthony Fauci — the nation’s top infectious disease expert — because he does not like the advice Fauci has shared.
During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Admiral Brett Giroir, the Assistant Secretary for Health, was asked about a recent article in The Washington Post that claimed that Dr. Anthony Fauci was being sidelined.
“I want to put to just put this to rest. There is complete, open, honest discussion within the task force,” Giroir said. “The task force meets three or four times a week. The vice president calls me regularly. Dr. Birx is not one to hold her tongue. Believe me, if there’s a public health opinion that needs to be said, that needs to be it.”
He also addressed the question of whether Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, is being sidelined because Trump does not want to listen to his advice.
“I respect Dr. Fauci a lot, but Dr. Fauci is not 100% right, and he also doesn’t necessarily — and he admits that — have the whole national interest in mind. He looks at it from a very narrow public health point of view, but let me just say there is absolutely open discourse. I feel absolutely free saying anything to the vice president within those rooms. The vice president I know briefs the president on a daily basis. So nobody feels like anything is held back.”
Watch the video below:
TODAY on #MTP: Admiral Brett Giroir says “Dr. Fauci is not 100 percent right.” #MTP #IfItSunday@HHS_ASH: “He looks at it from a very narrow public health point of view.” pic.twitter.com/EE07SYXEAd
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) July 12, 2020
The article in the Post says that the White House has sought to limit Fauci’s media appearances and time in the Oval Office. Additionally, the Post cited a White House statement that said administration officials are “concerned about the number of times Dr. Fauci has been wrong on things.”
In recent days, Trump has openly voiced his disagreements with Fauci, as IJR reported.
During an interview on “Full Court Press,” Trump was pressed on Fauci’s assessment of the coronavirus in which he said the country not in a good position with regards to the coronavirus outbreak.
“I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him,” Trump said.
He also appeared to suggest that he does not fully trust Fauci’s advice, “Dr. Fauci said don’t wear masks, now he says wear them.”