- Former President Donald Trump responded to questions about why he did not terminate the employment of former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci amid the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- During an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, President Trump was asked about Dr. Fauci, who had been on the Trump pandemic response force, in 2020. “First of all, you’re not allowed,” the former president said when asked why he didn’t fire him, which Mr. Hewitt said was the “biggest knock” on his presidency.
- “No, no, no, Dr. Fauci was there. First of all, he’s civil service, and you’re not allowed to fire him. But forget that because I don’t necessarily go by everything … but Dr. Fauci would tell me things, and I wouldn’t do them in many cases. But also, he wasn’t a big player in my administration,” President Trump said.
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Trump Rewrites History, Claims Fauci ‘Wasn’t A Big Player’ During COVID
The former president has received some criticism—namely from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis—for not firing Dr. Fauci
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci speaks during the daily press briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 22, 2022. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
