Dr Fauci clashes with top Trump loyalist over proposed crackdown on protests during pandemic

'I'm not in a position of what the government should do in a forceful way,' top infectious diseases expert says

Anthony Fauci has clashed with Republican congressman Jim Jordan about whether the government should limit protesting across the country amid the coronavirus pandemic during a House subcommittee hearing.

Mr Jordan, a Donald Trump loyalist and representative of Ohio, asked the nation's top infectious disease expert what his recommendations were for large gatherings – specifically protests – and if they contributed to spreading the novel virus.

"Do protests increase the spread of the virus? I think I can make a general statement," Dr Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH), said. "Crowding together, particularly when you're not wearing a mask, contributes to spreading the virus."

The representative then pressed Dr Fauci on whether the government should "limit" people protesting because it involves a large gathering.

"I don't think that is relevant," Dr Facui responded. "I'm not in a position of what the government should do in a forceful way."

His response did not seem to satisfy Mr Jordan, who was using his line of questioning to show how recommendations from Dr Fauci have, in his opinion, only focused on limiting gatherings like going to church but not protests.

"Well you make all kinds of recommendations ... government is stopping people from going to church, Dr Fauci," Mr Jordan said. "I'm just asking if there is a world where you can favour one First Amendment liberty, protesting, over another, practising your faith."

Dr Fauci responded: "I'm not favouring anybody over anybody. I am just making a statement, that's a broad statement, to avoid crowds of any type no matter where you are because that leads to the acquisition and transmission. And I don't judge one crowd versus another crowd. When you're in a crowd, particularly if you are not wearing a mask, that influences the spread."

Mr Jordan, still unsatisfied, made the point that he hasn't seen "any violence" at church services in recent months compared to the violence seen at some protests around the country.

"I haven't see people at church services go out and harm police officers and burn buildings ... but we know that for 63 days ... it's been happening in Portland," Mr Jordan said.

But Dr Fauci held firm that he was not going to "opine" about what the American public should do, and that his broad recommendation was for people to avoid any large crowd.

The encounter continued with Mr Jordan bringing up how the government in specific areas refused to let people open certain businesses and go to work.

"So, you’re allowed to protest, millions of people in crowds ... but you try to run your business and you get arrested?" Mr Jordan asked.

Dr Fauci responded: "I don't understand what you're asking me, as a public health official, to opine on who should get arrested or not. That's not my position."

Politics has become a central theme amid the coronavirus pandemic, with party lines showing in states across the US, and within the federal government, when officials decide to make, or not make, recommendations like wearing a mask in public.

Which national health expert one should believe has also become a political issue. Dr Fauci has faced criticism in recent weeks from the Trump administration and Republicans over his recommendations to curb the spread of the novel virus.

When speaking to Mr Jordan, he attempted to avoid entering into the political sphere by making specific recommendations regarding the protests.

"I'm not gonna opine on limiting anything," Dr Fauci said. "I'm telling what is the danger. And you can make your own conclusion about that. You should stay away from crowds, no matter where the crowds are."