Trump Trashes Fauci as a ‘Disaster’ in Phone Call With Campaign Staff

The Wrap

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President Trump trashed Dr. Anthony Fauci as being a “disaster” and other public health officials as being “idiots” during an unfiltered phone call with campaign staff on Monday.

“People are tired of COVID. I have these huge rallies,” Trump said on the call, according to Politico. “People are saying whatever. Just leave us alone. They’re tired of it. People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots.”

The president also said Fauci was a “disaster” who had been around for “500 years” and was undeterred by the fact that reporters were on the call, telling them they could use his comments as is.

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

*Also Read:* Fauci Says Trump Campaign Should Take Down 'Completely Out of Context' Ad

Tensions between the president and Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, have continued to mount as the pandemic has raged on in the U.S. Last week, the Trump campaign and Fauci also publicly butted heads over a campaign ad that included an out-of-context quote from Fauci, which was edited to make it appear as if Fauci were praising Trump on his handling of the pandemic.

“I think it’s really unfortunate and really disappointing that they did that. It’s so clear that I’m not a political person and I have never — either directly or indirectly — endorsed a political candidate, and to take a completely out of context statement and put it in which is obviously a political campaign ad, I thought was really very disappointing,” Fauci told CNN last week.

In an interview with “60 Minutes” on Sunday, Fauci said there has been a “restriction” on coronavirus information from the White House and that he has “not been allowed” to go on many shows that sought him. Fauci also said that he was not surprised that President Trump contracted COVID-19 given the lack of masking and social distancing at a White House rose garden event.

In response, Trump tweeted that Fauci gets more airtime than anybody since the late, great, Bob Hope.



Dr.Tony Fauci says we don’t allow him to do television, and yet I saw him last night on @60Minutes, and he seems to get more airtime than anybody since the late, great, Bob Hope. All I ask of Tony is that he make better decisions. He said “no masks & let China in”. Also, Bad arm!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 19, 2020



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