Trump targets Fauci and Birx in lengthy rant

Former President TrumpDonald Trump The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden to talk about infrastructure in mid-border, voting controversies Juan Williams: GOP’s Big Voting Rights Lie Schumer goes into re-election mode MORE monday made a tirade against Anthony FauciAnthony FauciFauci: Trump’s call to ‘liberate’ Virginia, Michigan ‘hit me like a punch in the chest’ Fauci says he and Birx had ‘bad cop’ roles , a “ good cop ” in the Trump coronavirus task force Cases of coronavirus variants in Florida CONTINUED and Deborah BirxDeborah BirxFauci: Trump’s call to ‘liberate’ Virginia, Michigan ‘hit me like a punch in the chest’ Fauci says he and Birx had ‘bad cop’ roles , ‘good cop’ in Trump coronavirus task force on Sunday shows: Biden border issues, gun control dominates MORE, two of his former top medical advisers on the COVID-19 pandemic, excoriating their decision-making during his administration the day after CNN aired sneak peeks of comments from top government health experts.

Trump released a lengthy statement in which he argued that he ignored both Fauci and Birx during his tenure to benefit the country and bragged about being responsible for the rapid development and approval of vaccines .

“Based on their interviews, I felt it was time to talk Dr FauciAnthony FauciFauci: Trump’s call to ‘liberate’ Virginia, Michigan ‘hit me like a punch in the chest’ Fauci says he and Birx had ‘bad cop’ roles , a “ good cop ” in the Trump coronavirus task force Cases of coronavirus variants in Florida CONTINUED and Dr. Birx, two self-proponents trying to reimagine history to cover up their bad instincts and flawed recommendations, which I thankfully almost always reversed, “Trump said in a statement Monday.” They made bad political decisions that would have left our country. open to China and others, closed to our economy reopening and years of an approved vaccine – putting millions of lives at risk. “

Trump also mocked Fauci for his wayward first pitch at the Washington Nationals game last year and called him a “king of the” seesaws, “citing his shifting directions as pundits learned more about him. the pandemic.

Trump has kept his sharpest criticism of Birx, who has granted interviews in recent weeks in which she has expressed regret for the way she handled her role as head of the White House coronavirus task force.

“Dr Birx is a proven liar with very little credibility,” Trump said, saying Fauci would speak badly of herself behind her back.

“States that followed his lead, like California, had worse results on Covid and ruined the lives of countless children because they couldn’t go to school, ruined many businesses and many countless Americans who have been killed by the lockdowns themselves. “Trump added.” Dr. Birx was a terrible medical advisor, which is why I rarely took his advice.

The former president also hinted at Birx for traveling on Thanksgiving to see her family, although she insisted on advice to avoid non-essential travel. Trump has issued the criticism despite his frequent trips for campaign events throughout the pandemic, including holding large numbers of largely maskless rallies in the weeks leading up to the election.

Birx was criticized last year for praising Trump’s understanding of the pandemic data despite his tendency to spread disinformation. She failed to push back last spring when Trump made false claims that people were injecting themselves with disinfectant as a way to treat the virus.

The Trump rant came on Monday in response to interviews with Birx and Fauci that aired Sunday as part of a preview of a CNN special that aired Friday.

During her interview, Birx said the first 100,000 deaths in the United States from the virus were difficult to prevent due to the rapid nature of the pandemic. But she argued that if the Trump administration had acted more decisively, the rest of the deaths “could have been mitigated or significantly reduced.” More than 545,000 people have died from the virus in the United States.

Birx also said she had a “very uncomfortable” conversation with Trump following a television interview last year in which she warned of a dire situation amid the pandemic.

Birx also told CNN that an August interview in which she warned of the dangers of COVID-19, even for rural and isolated communities, angered “everyone at Home Blanche, ”including Trump.

“I think you’ve overheard other conversations other people have posted with the president. I would say it was even more direct than what people heard,” Birx said, describing the conversation she said. had with Trump. “It was very uncomfortable, very direct, very hard to hear.”

Fauci, who also appeared on the CNN special, has long been a prime target for the former president since Trump’s time in office. Fauci has regularly rebuffed Trump’s false claims about treatments for the virus and the severity of the pandemic.

Fauci admitted that he has felt free to speak his mind and be honest about the pandemic ever since. President BidenJoe Biden The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden to talk about infrastructure in mid-border, voting controversies Juan Williams: GOP’s Big Voting Rights Lie Schumer goes into re-election mode MORE to take place.