In April 2020, former President Donald Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Donald Trump, a former President, stated that he did the "opposite" to Dr. Anthony Fauci's advice during pandemic.
Trump claimed that he didn't fire Fauci because he would "take heat" for it.
Trump and Fauci have frequently criticised each other for their divergent approaches to the pandemic.
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Donald Trump, a former President, stated that he did "pretty nearly the opposite" to what Dr. Anthony Fauci recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump made these comments during a Friday interview with David Brody from Real America's Voice.
Brody asked Fauci if he regretted not firing him. He is now Biden’s Chief Medical Advisor, and was previously a member of the White House Coronavirus Taskforce.
Trump stated that he was able to get along with his doctor but ignored his advice during the pandemic.
He was there for 40 years. He was an integral part of the furniture. Trump stated, "But if you think about that, I did pretty much what he said."
"I got along with him, actually. He was a great character and I found him. He would say, "Just call me Tony." Call me Tony, sir. He's a better promoter then he is a physician, but you know what?
Trump stated that he took all the decisions regarding handling the pandemic. This was contrary to Fauci's advice.
"He didn’t want to shut down our country to China. It was done immediately. I didn't even hesitate. He said that he saved thousands of lives three months later. He was not willing to shut down our country for Europe. I did.
Dr. Fauci stated that travel restrictions were "not a good idea" in the initial days of the pandemic.
Politifact reports that Trump's travel restrictions for China were supported by Trump.
Trump also criticised Fauci's change in his position on the importance masks during the interview.
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He also stated that masks didn't have any meaning. Trump stated that he then became a radical masquer.
Politifact stated that Fauci originally said that masks weren't useful in stopping the spread of the virus. He then advised the public not to purchase them, and not cause shortages for health professionals.
The Centers for Disease Control recommended that people cover their faces when they go out in public.
Fauci had previously said that Trump disliked wearing masks because he considered them a sign of weakness. He said that many Americans followed his example.
Trump stated in an interview that he didn't fire Fauci because it was a losing situation and that he would have "taken the heat" regardless of what he did.
Trump stated, "But I did what was best for me and made the right decisions."
Fauci stated that the ex-president "very likely" cost American lives spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
Trump stated that there was no issue with vaccine hesitancy in his presidency, and that everyone "wanted the vaccination."
"People don't trust the Biden administration. He said that since I've left, you have the mandate fight. It's a huge fight and you must allow people to have their freedom."
Trump stated, "I received the vaccine." "It's very effective and a lot of people have taken it," Trump said.
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