Fauci says he would never use the term ‘China virus’ as he reveals frustrations working with Trump White House
Dr Anthony Fauci, the US’s leading diseases expert, has rebuked Trump’s claims on coronavirus. Now, he has described what it’s like inside the coronavirus taskforce in detail
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.The diseases expert leading the Trump administration’s response to coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has said that he has never called the coronavirus the “Chinese virus”.
In an interview with Science magazine on Sunday, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said he will never name the virus in the same way that President Donald Trump has done in recent days.
The US President has dismissed claims that referring to the coronavirus as the “China” or “Chinese virus” was racist, insisting that it was “accurate”.
Dr Fauci told Science magazine on Sunday that he generally did not disagree with the substance of Mr Trump’s messaging, but that announcements were made “in a way that I would not express it, because it could lead to some misunderstanding about what the facts are about a given subject.”
He said: “I can’t jump in front of the microphone and push him down.”
According to the immunologist, the Trump administration needed things to be repeated four times before action was taken. He said: “When you’re dealing with the White House, sometimes you have to say things 1,2,3,4 times, and then it happens. So I’m going to keep pushing.”
Despite praise from the President he had become “become a major television star”, Dr Fauci criticised Mr Trump for shaking hands on stage during the daily coronavirus taskforce briefings.
He told Science magazine: “We should not be doing that. Not only that – we should be physically separating a bit more on those press conferences.”
The interview comes amid mounting speculation about tensions between Mr Trump and Dr Fauci, who last week publicly rebuked the President’s claim that chloroquine could be immediately introduced to treat coronavirus.
On Friday, Dr Fauci appeared to facepalm at the President’s remark about “the Deep state Department”.
The leading doctor told the New York Times in an interview published on Saturday that he was performing a balancing act with the Trump administration. He said: “I had been walking a fine line; I’ve been telling the president things he doesn’t want to hear. I have publicly had to say something different with what he states”.
He added: “It’s a risky business. But that’s my style”.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments