WASHINGTON – Dr. Anthony Fauci on Monday night rejected President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of him in which he called the infectious disease expert “alarmist.”
“I consider myself realistic, rather than alarmist,” Fauci said in an Instagram Live interview with Maria Schriver.
When asked if Trump’s characterization of him was unfair, Fauci said: “I think so, but, again, others have different opinions.”
“I am realistic but also optimistic,” added Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Fauci warned last week that the coronavirus pandemic could be as severe as the 1918 flu pandemic, which is estimated to have killed at least 50 million people worldwide. It also warned late last month that the number of COVID-19 cases could exceed 100,000 per day.
Fauci’s comments on Instagram on Monday came after the president said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday” that Fauci is “a bit of an alarmist.”
“Dr. Fauci, at first, said this will happen, don’t worry, it will happen,” Trump said. “I was wrong. Dr. Fauci said don’t ban China. I did it, then he admitted he was right.”
Trump said this administration is not involved in a campaign to discredit Fauci, but then questioned why the infectious disease expert had said at the start of the outbreak that people should not wear a mask.
“Dr. Fauci told me not to ban China, it would be a big mistake. I did it beyond his reserve,” said Trump. “Dr. Fauci then said,” You saved tens of thousands of lives, “more than that.” . Dr. Fauci has made some mistakes, but I have a very good one, I spoke to him extensively yesterday, I have a very good relationship with Dr. Fauci. “
