Fauci Says He Was ‘Absolutely Not’ Surprised When Trump Got Infected With COVID-19

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, looks on as President Donald Trump delivers remarks about coronavirus vaccine development in the Rose Garden of the White Hous... Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, looks on as President Donald Trump delivers remarks about coronavirus vaccine development in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 15, 2020. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the White House’s most prominent COVID-19 experts, said on Sunday that President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis wasn’t a surprise given how often the President openly disregards the dangers of holding large gatherings, such as his campaign rallies, and not wearing masks.

“Absolutely not,” Fauci said during a pre-taped interview when CBS medical correspondent Jon LaPook asked if he was surprised when Trump got sick, which ultimately landed the President in the hospital earlier this month.

“I was worried that he was going to get sick when I saw him in a completely precarious situation of crowded, no separation between people, and almost nobody wearing a mask,” the doctor continued. “When I saw that on TV, I said, ‘Oh my goodness. Nothing good can come outta that, that’s gotta be a problem.'”

“And then sure enough, it turned out to be a superspreader event,” he added.

However, Fauci also asserted that Trump does believe in science “deep down.”

“If he didn’t, he would not have entrusted his health to the very competent physicians at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center,” Fauci told LaPook, arguing that the President falsely casting doubt on health experts’ sobering assessments of the pandemic is more a “statement of strength” than actually being anti-science.

Asked if Trump downplaying the importance of wearing masks makes sense, the doctor replied, “Of course not.”

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Notable Replies

  1. This seems strange since they endorsed Clinton, and they didn’t know Trump was as big an idiot and would be such a shitty president as they now do.

  2. I can’t imagine having all of my degrees and professional achievements shat on by a president and his administration.

  3. Joe really needs to give Fauci some kind of medal. At the very least, a medal for combatting Trump’s sick fuckery.

  4. He was only surprised that Trump survived

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