US Elections: Trump hints at firing Dr Fauci after poll victory

The feud between United States (US) President Donald Trump and the nation’s top advisor on the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Anthony Fauci, is about to reach boiling point, if it hasn’t already. This is after Trump suggested he would give Fauci the boot, should he bag another term in office.

Speaking during a campaign rally in Florida, one of the most important swing states in the election race, Trump went on another rant about the media’s coverage of his handling of the global pandemic. He then promised that a vaccine was well on its way and that the country was turning strides in the fight against the coronavirus.

Supporters then began chanting “Fire Fauci”

In response, Trump said:

“Don’t tell anybody but let me wait ’til a little bit after the election,” which prompted loud cheers from his supporters.

“I appreciate it,” Trump then said.

“Now, he’s been wrong on a lot. He’s a nice man though.”

The White House slams Dr Fauci

As the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr Anthony Fauci has headed the White House Coronavirus Task Force. He has often clashed with Trump over how the country has handled the global health crisis, much to the dismay of the administration and Republicans at large.

The White House had launched a scathing attack on Fauci, following an explosive interview he had done with The Washington Post on Friday, 30 October.

White House spokesman Judd Deere accused Fauci of playing politics for his remarks, particularly given the fact that the elections were just inches away.

“As a member of the Task Force, Dr. Fauci has a duty to express concerns or push for a change in strategy, but he’s not done that, instead choosing to criticize the president in the media and make his political leanings known by praising the president’s opponent — exactly what the American people have come to expect from The Swamp,” Deere said.

Fauci: ‘We’re not in a good situation’

The country has so far recorded more than nine million cases of the coronavirus while more than 250 000 other people have succumbed to the virus.

In the interview, Fauci had voiced his concern over the future for the country, in terms of ultimately defeating the respiratory disease.

“We’re in for a whole lot of hurt. It’s not a good situation,” he said.

“All the stars are aligned in the wrong place as you go into the fall and winter season, with people congregating at home indoors. You could not possibly be positioned more poorly.”

Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)