ABC News’ Chief White House Correspondent Jon Karl is advising the Trump administration to listen to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Co-host of “The View” Sunny Hostin asked Karl what he thinks about reports of Trump discrediting and distancing himself from Fauci.
Karl argued while the Trump administration may not like how Fauci delivers the information, he is a trusted voice.
“They realize that as this pandemic gets worse, you may not like Fauci’s tendency to bluntly tell the truth, but he is the leading expert on this issue. You cannot sideline him,” Karl said.
Watch his comments below:
.@jonkarl on the White House’s relationship with Dr. Anthony Fauci: “They realize that as this pandemic gets worse, you may not like Fauci’s tendency to bluntly tell the truth, but he is the leading expert on this issue. You cannot sideline him.” https://t.co/cVclFZQmjA pic.twitter.com/hTk45cLhdU
— The View (@TheView) July 17, 2020
Karl said Trump spoke with Fauci on Thursday and they both “jumped all over” Peter Navarro, director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, over his op-ed slamming Fauci for his response to the coronavirus.
In the USA Today op-ed, Navarro claimed Fauci “has been wrong about everything,” as IJR previously reported.
As he left the White House on Wednesday, Trump was asked about Navarro’s op-ed.
Trump said, “He shouldn’t be doing that,” as IJR previously reported.
Karl explained while the White House is adamant Navarro did not receive permission to run the op-ed, it is “very consistent” with what others at the White House have been saying about Fauci in recent days and weeks.
Karl noted Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff for communications, posted a cartoon mocking Fauci.
USA Today later added an editorial note to Navarro’s op-ed claiming it did not meet the publication’s fact-checking standards.
On Monday, Trump declared he has “a very good relationship with Fauci.”
During a campaign press call on Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence called Fauci a valued member of the White House coronavirus task force.
Fauci called Trump’s attempts to discredit him “a bit bizarre” and claimed it only hurts Trump in the end.