Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

‘Fauci is a disaster’: Trump lashes out at diseases expert and says Americans are ‘tired' of coronavirus

President claims there would have been more than 500,000 deaths if he had followed his disease expert’s advice

Graeme Massie
Los Angeles
Monday 19 October 2020 18:51 BST
Comments
Trump criticises Fauci on early mask guidance
Leer en Español

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Donald Trump lashed out at disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci and branded him a “disaster” as he said Americans are “tired” of hearing about Covid-19.

The president attacked Dr Fauci on a campaign call to staffers and said that if the scientist had been in charge more than 500,000 Americans would have died.

“Fauci is a disaster. If I listened to him, we’d have 500,000 deaths,” Mr Trump said on the call, according to CNN.

“If there’s a reporter on, you can have it just the way I said it, I couldn’t care less.”

Mr Trump later in the call said there would have been between 700,000 and 800,000 deaths as he mocked Dr Fauci for having been around for “500 years.”

"People are tired of Covid. I have these huge rallies," Trump said.

"People are saying whatever. Just leave us alone. They're tired of it. People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots - Fauci is a nice guy. He's been here for 500 years.”

The president’s attacks on Dr Fauci come after the scientist said he was “not surprised” that Mr Trump had  come down with the virus.

Mr Trump also likened Dr Fauci’s TV appearances to discuss coronavirus as a “bomb” but said it was a “bigger bomb if you fire him.”

Some 200,000 Americans have died from coronavirus and eight million have tested positive since the pandemic began.

Mr Trump was hospitalised for three days of treatment after testing positive for Covid-19. His wife Melania and son Barron, and a number of his White House inner circle also tested positive.

On the call the president also denied that there was tension between him and his White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and he disputed reports he was planning on firing him after the election.

"I love Mark Meadows. It took me two years to get him out of Congress. Mark Meadows is doing a good job. I'm not dismissing him,” said Mr Trump.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in