Trump calls Fauci a 'disaster' and seeks to reassure his team he can win

[webfact]

Trump calls Fauci a 'disaster' and seeks to reassure his team he can win

By Jeff Mason and Steve Holland

 

FILE PHOTO: Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S. June 30, 2020. Al Drago/Pool via REUTERS

 

LAS VEGAS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump called coronavirus expert Anthony Fauci a "disaster" on Monday, airing his frustration with the scientist during a call meant to reassure campaign staff he has a path to victory on Nov. 3 despite trailing in opinion polls.

 

Trump and Fauci, a member of his coronavirus task force, have been at odds over how best to handle a pandemic that has killed more than 219,000 people in the United States and weakened the Republican president's case for re-election.

 

Fauci, 79, who has served under Republican and Democratic presidents and is one of the most admired scientists in the United States, has urged that COVID-19 continue to be taken seriously. Trump has suggested the worst has passed.

 

"Fauci is a disaster. If I listened to him, we’d have 500,000 deaths," Trump said during the call, which the campaign allowed reporters to join.

 

Fauci has openly complained about being cited in a Trump re-election campaign advertisement that discussed the administration's pandemic response, and said in an interview broadcast on Sunday night by CBS' "60 Minutes" that he was not surprised Trump himself contracted the virus.

 

Trump, speaking from his signature hotel in Las Vegas ahead of two rallies in Arizona, said Fauci bombed during TV interviews but that it would be "a bigger bomb if you fire him."

 

Fauci's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

Trump said Americans were fed up with pandemic restrictions.

 

"People are saying: 'Whatever. Just leave us alone.' They’re tired of it. People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots," said Trump, whose rallies include many supporters not wearing masks and standing shoulder to shoulder, at odds with the guidance of Fauci and other public health experts.

 

"Fauci is a nice guy. He’s been here for 500 years," Trump added.

 

Republican Senator Lamar Alexander issued a statement calling Fauci, who has been director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, "one of our country’s most distinguished public servants."

 

President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters that the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has made "bad calls" when it comes to the handling of COVID-19 in the United States.

 

"If more Americans paid attention to his advice, we’d have fewer cases of COVID-19, and it would be safer to go back to school and back to work and out to eat," Alexander said.

 

Trump's conference call was intended to buck up his national team of campaign workers amid a spate of stories suggesting a campaign in turmoil.

 

With 15 days until Election Day, Democrat Joe Biden holds a lead in national opinion polls and in many battleground states where the election is likely to be decided.

 

"We have momentum at the exact time that we want momentum," campaign manager Bill Stepien said on the call.

 

Trump called news stories about internal strife "bullshit" and said he felt he was in a better position now than four years ago when he scored an improbable victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

 

"This is the best I’ve ever felt," he said.

 

Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon said over the weekend that national poll figures were misleading because must-win states were close.

 

“Every indication we have shows that this thing is going to come down to the wire,” she wrote in a memo to donors.

 

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Steve Holland; Additional reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Howard Goller and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-20

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Somtamnication]

He just now called him an idiot....what a nice guy!

[sezze]

I do not respond a lot about US politics , only sometimes when it get's over the top .

Dr Fauci is worldwide known as great specialist . His research is as good as it get's , and he won multiple rewards for it , from the medical world . On the other side there is supposed to be a selfmade billionaire , but selfmade isn't so selfmade if you got a lot of help from your rich father , and the billions so far aren't looking to good neither . Trump would do horrible in the science field . If the 2 speak , no matter what it would be about , i know who i would actually listen to what he has got to say .

[englishoak]

4 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

He just now called him an idiot....what a nice guy!

True hes not an idiot, just a disaster

[Lacessit]

Trump calling other people names, because they disagree with him. Yawn. So one-track.

 

[RJRS1301]

51 minutes ago, englishoak said:

True hes not an idiot, just a disaster

Trump of course has qualifications and experience  in medicine, science and community health. 

Choice between medical pandemic response from Fauci and Trump>> lets see who would you trust and choose, taking into account the ability to interpret facts and tell truth ?

??

 

[scammed]

1 hour ago, sezze said:

I do not respond a lot about US politics , only sometimes when it get's over the top .

Dr Fauci is worldwide known as great specialist . His research is as good as it get's , and he won multiple rewards for it , from the medical world . On the other side there is supposed to be a selfmade billionaire , but selfmade isn't so selfmade if you got a lot of help from your rich father , and the billions so far aren't looking to good neither . Trump would do horrible in the science field . If the 2 speak , no matter what it would be about , i know who i would actually listen to what he has got to say .

both are senile, take it as such and listen to neither

[sezze]

23 minutes ago, scammed said:

both are senile, take it as such and listen to neither

Even if they are both senile , Fauci is much more trustworthy then Trump . Remember 1 was thinking about injecting disinfectant .... i forgot who , maybe i am senile also .

 

Fauci only talks about disease/virus , and even senile he got more knowledge about that that many normal doctors . His trackrecord is something Trump cannot even get close to , no matter what he does in next 4 lifetimes .

Edited October 19, 2020 by sezze

[Fat is a type of crazy]

I think Trump's theory is that as long as what he's saying and doing get's talked about, it makes him look like action man, and will help his vote. 

Stop to think for a moment that Fauci, who has successfully worked for Presidents' from both parties, is now getting death threats and needs 24 7 security. 

I think most people see the end in sight and just don't care what nonsense version of events Trump is trying to sell. His appallingness never fails to disappoint. 

 

 

[PatOngo]

Sorry Donald, the disaster is YOU!

[stevenl]

29 minutes ago, sezze said:

Even if they are both senile , Fauci is much more trustworthy then Trump . Remember 1 was thinking about injecting disinfectant .... i forgot who , maybe i am senile also .

 

Fauci only talks about disease/virus , and even senile he got more knowledge about that that many normal doctors . His trackrecord is something Trump cannot even get close to , no matter what he does in next 4 lifetimes .

Plus Fauci seems to be a decent human being, who doesn't need to smear others in order to feel better himself.

[ThailandRyan]

All I can say is, if at first you don't succeed to derail a campaign before an election you just open up your mouth and try again.  If this guy gets elected after all the shenanigans then maybe he himself isn't such an idiot and he plays the drama card to the end much like a Thai Lakorn.

[placeholder]

1 hour ago, scammed said:

both are senile, take it as such and listen to neither

Clearly Fauci is senile because being able to discuss at length highly technical subjects in a socially appropriate way is one of the chief symptoms of senility.

[simple1]

2 hours ago, englishoak said:

True hes not an idiot, just a disaster

trump has complete ownership of the US response to Covid, no one to blame other than himself. trump's latest grievance outburst is a reaction to Fauci's 60 Minute interview - usual spiteful reaction to criticism. trump is the 'idiot' for only believing in his enablers and refusing to acknowledge the fact of accelerating deaths and new infections across the US.

 

The only reason trump doesn't fire Fauci is because it would loose him more votes - in other words Fauci has more credibility than trump with the majority of US citizens - so who's the fool?

Edited October 20, 2020 by simple1

[Chomper Higgot]

The basis of Trump’s whining about Fauci are two fold:

 

1. Fauci’s popularity on TV and the ‘airtime’ he gets.

 

2. Fauci was honored with throwing the first pitch of the 2020 baseball season.

 

That’s how fragile and childish Trump is.

 

He needs to quit whining and focus on prison reforms.

 

 

[Pib]

Donald (a.k.a., Cadet Bone Spurs) needs to stick with promoting bleach/Clorox on FoxNews vs attacking highly respected infectious disease experts.

[blazes]

46 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Plus Fauci seems to be a decent human being, who doesn't need to smear others in order to feel better himself.

 

He's a pompous ass, and has indeed sown total confusion with his contradictory statements about travel to or from China, or it's no use (today) wearing a mask, and (tomorrow) people should wear a mask wherever possible.

Fauci is a civil servant, so can get away with making contradictory statements ( the same thing has occurred in the UK with disastrous results).  Trump earlier on was following Fauci and his contradictions, but because he is a politician he can't get away with making these contradictory statements. 

If Trump is at fault it is because he failed to do adequate research into Fauci's qualifications.  Just cos he's been there for decades does not grant him immunity from being ludicrous.  Anyone who's been in a work environment where a person is allowed to stay on and on and on knows how poisonous the atmosphere can get. 

In the meantime, the doc is adored by a lot of suburban housewives who will not be voting for Trump.  And that should make him happy as he approaches 80.....

[placeholder]

2 minutes ago, blazes said:

 

He's a pompous ass, and has indeed sown total confusion with his contradictory statements about travel to or from China, or it's no use (today) wearing a mask, and (tomorrow) people should wear a mask wherever possible.

Fauci is a civil servant, so can get away with making contradictory statements ( the same thing has occurred in the UK with disastrous results).  Trump earlier on was following Fauci and his contradictions, but because he is a politician he can't get away with making these contradictory statements. 

If Trump is at fault it is because he failed to do adequate research into Fauci's qualifications.  Just cos he's been there for decades does not grant him immunity from being ludicrous.  Anyone who's been in a work environment where a person is allowed to stay on and on and on knows how poisonous the atmosphere can get. 

In the meantime, the doc is adored by a lot of suburban housewives who will not be voting for Trump.  And that should make him happy as he approaches 80.....

Nice try. In the early stages of the epidemic it was reckoned by scientists that mask wearing - particularly wearing masks that weren't high grade - wasn't effective. As the research came in, scientists accepted the data and changed their recommendations. Ya think it would have been better if Fauci had stuck to the earlier recommendations despite the new information?

There was also the question of the public snatching up high grade n95 masks which were and continue to be in short supply (thanks Trump!) and so depriving front line health care workers of needed protection.

[OneMoreFarang]

I love it when he disqualifies himself more and more.

I am sure his hardcore supporters still love Trump no matter what he says or does.

But how many undecided voters will switch to Trump when he insults a well known and well respected expert?

The more Trump says the fewer undecided voters will support him. Great!

 

Dear Donald, please continue to open your mouth as wide as you can. Insult all the experts. I am sure your supporters love it. Win/win.

[Emdog]

Trump is failing and flailing

Reading his latest rant.... the album "Tommy" came to mind

First "Go to the mirror boy"

and then just Trump is a "deaf dumb and blind kid" but he can't play a mean pin ball

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, Emdog said:

Trump is failing and flailing

Reading his latest rant.... the album "Tommy" came to mind

First "Go to the mirror boy"

and then just Trump is a "deaf dumb and blind kid" but he can't play a mean pin ball

Thanks for giving me today’s ‘ear worm’.

[Chomper Higgot]

What is it with Trump’s supporters joining in Trump’s whining attacks on others with added accusations of ‘senility’ and ‘agism’?

 

Is being offensive their last remaining line of argument?!

 

 

[steelepulse]

The problem with Fauci, even by his own admission, is he is not looking at the big picture, such as the cancer patients who can't get treatment, the cardiac patients that can't get treatment, the skyrocketing suicide rates and depression,  and all the other health related issues that are being overlooked.  Then of course he is also not looking at the economy, starvation and everything else that his lockdown recommendations have caused.  Besides all of these issues that are causing worse problems than the coronavirus, he is doing a great job....................................

 

[Tug]

To me it looks like utter abject desperation and btw we all know who the disaster and or idiot / moron is and it isent dr Fauci 

[placeholder]

3 minutes ago, steelepulse said:

The problem with Fauci, even by his own admission, is he is not looking at the big picture, such as the cancer patients who can't get treatment, the cardiac patients that can't get treatment, the skyrocketing suicide rates and depression,  and all the other health related issues that are being overlooked.  Then of course he is also not looking at the economy, starvation and everything else that his lockdown recommendations have caused.  Besides all of these issues that are causing worse problems than the coronavirus, he is doing a great job....................................

 

And you think that if hospitals get overrun with Covid patients treatment of cancer and cardiac patients is going to improve? Really?

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, steelepulse said:

The problem with Fauci, even by his own admission, is he is not looking at the big picture, such as the cancer patients who can't get treatment, the cardiac patients that can't get treatment, the skyrocketing suicide rates and depression,  and all the other health related issues that are being overlooked.  Then of course he is also not looking at the economy, starvation and everything else that his lockdown recommendations have caused.  Besides all of these issues that are causing worse problems than the coronavirus, he is doing a great job....................................

 

The problem is Trump’s not looking at the big picture.

 

Though he seems to have an eye on the hospitality business sector where he is so heavily ‘invested’. 

[Lacessit]

Trump attacks everyone who disagrees with him, or thwarts him in any way. Has done it all his life, he's a one-trick pony in that respect. The Republican campaign managers must be tearing their hair out, if they have any left. Taking time out from attacking Biden to go after Fauci is typical of how erratic Trump is.

Trump is losing, and he knows it. I would not be surprised if he tries to annul the election result. After that, the only way IMO for America to get its sanity back is for Trump to be led out of the White House - in handcuffs.

[Jeffr2]

2 hours ago, scammed said:

both are senile, take it as such and listen to neither

Clueless.  Fauci is far from senile.  And is the top expert with regards to infectious diseases.  Sad you don't understand this.  And ignore his advice. 

 

Trump?  What a loser.  Bashing a highly credible medical expert.  But, more of the same from this terrible leader.

[sezze]

17 minutes ago, placeholder said:

And you think that if hospitals get overrun with Covid patients treatment of cancer and cardiac patients is going to improve? Really?

Already happening in several hospitals in Europe , idk US but im sure situation isn't much better . I feel bad for the healthworkers who always been left out of this .

[Jeffr2]

52 minutes ago, blazes said:

 

He's a pompous ass, and has indeed sown total confusion with his contradictory statements about travel to or from China, or it's no use (today) wearing a mask, and (tomorrow) people should wear a mask wherever possible.

Fauci is a civil servant, so can get away with making contradictory statements ( the same thing has occurred in the UK with disastrous results).  Trump earlier on was following Fauci and his contradictions, but because he is a politician he can't get away with making these contradictory statements. 

If Trump is at fault it is because he failed to do adequate research into Fauci's qualifications.  Just cos he's been there for decades does not grant him immunity from being ludicrous.  Anyone who's been in a work environment where a person is allowed to stay on and on and on knows how poisonous the atmosphere can get. 

In the meantime, the doc is adored by a lot of suburban housewives who will not be voting for Trump.  And that should make him happy as he approaches 80.....

You need a better source for your news.  Research why Fauci said not to wear masks (they were running short during the initial outbreak).  As for travel to or from China, he never was contradictory.  That's a false statement.

 

Fauci is the best the US has and Trump is anti-science.  Tough times in the US.  Ignore Trump, pay attention to Fauci and the scientists.  The doc is adored by a majority of people who believe in science.

 

Fauci is adored by a lot of people who