Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, seems to walking back on some critical statements he’s made about Trump since he left office now that he needs his help. In a recent interview with Chris Wallace, the disease expert noted the vast influence Trump has on Republicans after Wallace played a clip of four former presidents urging Americans to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
The Daily Wire reports:
“Now, conspicuous by his absence in that public service announcement was President Trump,” Wallace said. “And here’s why that was important. According to a recent poll, 49 percent of Republican men said they don’t intend to get the vaccine.”
“Doctor, how much of a difference will it make if President Trump, who was largely responsible for the success of Operation Warp Speed, how much of a difference will it make if President Trump leads a campaign for the people who are most devoted to him to actually go out and get the vaccine?” Wallace asked.
“He’s a very widely popular person among Republicans,” Fauci said. “If he came out and said, go and get vaccinated, it’s really important for your health, the health of your family and the health of the country, it seems absolutely inevitable that the vast majority of people who are his close followers would listen to him. He’s such a strongly popular person. I cannot imagine that if he comes out that they would not get vaccinated. It would be very helpful to the effort for that to happen.”
“I mean clearly Operation Warp Speed started in the Trump administration. It was very successful in getting us the vaccines we have right now. It seems like an intrinsic contradiction, the fact that you had a program that was started during his presidency and he’s not out telling people to get vaccinated,” Fauci later added. “I wish he would. He has such an incredible influence over people in the Republican Party. It would really be a game changer if he did.”
Fauci seems to be changing his tune after taking numerous shots at the former president in a series of interviews. The disease expert has made comments alleging the former president was not honest with Americans about the virus and has also thrown the blame on Trump for the pandemic.
