Fauci says relationship with Trump is good, but would withdraw from working group if asked

Dr Anthony FauciAnthony Fauci Trump Advisor Calls Fauci: Wrong About ‘Everything’ Night Health Care: Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Immune Response In First Results Fauci: Young People Have ‘Social Responsibility’ To Avoid COVID Infection MORE, the country’s leading infectious disease expert, said on Wednesday his relationship with President TrumpDonald John TrumpIvanka Trump launches Goya Foods products on Twitter Sessions defends the challenge: “I leave the elected office with my integrity intact” Former White House doctor Ronny Jackson wins the second round of Texas MORE He is good at “some aspects” and plans to remain in his role in the White House coronavirus workforce until he feels he is not valued on paper.

“I see myself in that role as long as I feel that I am being useful, that I am valued and that the White House loves me. If any of the above changes, then I would resign, ”Fauci told InStyle, when asked how long he sees himself holding that role.

Fauci, who serves as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he also has no plans to give up serving the nation in that capacity.

“I don’t see any termination in the near future because I judge [my career] for my energy and my effectiveness. And right now, with all due modesty, I think I’m pretty effective, “said Fauci.

“I am certainly energetic. And I think everyone thinks I’m doing more than just outstanding work. I have an incredibly good judgment wife who will probably give me the signal when it’s time to quit. But I don’t think we’re close to that right now, “he added.

Fauci said the White House also does not have the authority to determine the role in the institute or the power to fire him from that position.

The disease expert also said his relationship with Trump is good, amid reports that the White House tried to undermine Fauci with a memo detailing the “incorrect” statements he had made about the pandemic.

“You know, it’s complicated. Because in some ways I have a very good relationship with him. During the times when I saw him a lot, it was a fairly collegial relationship. And in many ways, it probably still is, but I don’t see it much anymore, “Fauci said, referring to Trump.

He also said the task force and doctors still meet regularly and has an almost daily relationship with the vice president. Mike PenceLouisiana Attorney General Michael (Mike) Richard Pence tests positive for coronavirus ahead of Pence’s visit to Larry Hogan state, hoping the Trump administration will extend support for Texas COVID-19 test sites MORE, who then reports to the president daily.

“So in some ways, even though it’s indirect rather than direct, we still have access to the president through the vice president,” Fauci said.

Pence said Wednesday that Fauci is a “valuable” member of the task force.

However, in addition to the reported note, some administration officials, including Dan Scavino, deputy director of communications staff, have launched public attacks on Fauci.

In an interview with The Atlantic published Wednesday, Fauci said efforts to discredit him are “strange.”

“I can’t understand in my wildest dreams why they would want to do that,” said Fauci. “I think they now realize that that was not prudent, because it only reflects negatively on them.”

He also told InStyle that he does not regret any comments he made earlier during the pandemic that may contradict the message he is pushing now, including the recommendation for masks for public use, noting that the orientation changed as the information became known. about the virus.

“I don’t regret anything I said then because in the context of the time I said it, it was correct,” he said.

“When it became clear that we could get the infection it could spread by asymptomatic carriers who don’t know they are infected, that made it very clear that we had to recommend masks,” he added.