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Donald Trump calls Dr. Fauci ‘an idiot’ and a ‘disaster’ during leaked call

File photo dated march 3, 2020 of U.S. President Donald Trump (R) watches a video presentation next to Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a coronavirus roundtable briefing in Bethesda, Maryland. President Trump said early Friday that he and the first lady had tested positive for the coronavirus, throwing the nationís leadership into uncertainty and escalating the crisis posed by a pandemic that has already killed more than 207,000 Americans and devastated the economy. In the presidential debate on Tuesday, Mr. Trump claimed that Dr. Fauci initially said ìmasks are not good ó then he changed his mind.î And when former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said wearing masks could save tens of thousands of lives, Mr. Trump contended that ìDr. Fauci said the opposite.î Dr. Fauci, whose relationship with his boss has often seemed tenuous at best, took issue with his claims the day after the debate. Photo by Yuri Gripas/ABACAPRESS.COM News | 743714_002 Washington Etats-Unis United States

President Donald Trump disparaged infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci on a call with campaign staff, tearing into experts as ‘idiots’ and saying Americans are ‘tired of COVID.’

In an election upended by the coronavirus, the president vented about lockdowns and Fauci in particular, after the expert has expressed increasing frustration with the lack of direction on social distancing and mask wearing that Fauci says could save thousands of lives.

The foul-mouthed tirade came as U.S. coronavirus infections appeared to be experiencing another spike, with 220000 Americans dead of the disease already.

‘People are tired of hearing Fauci and these idiots, all these idiots who got it wrong,’ he said, going further than in public comments where he has undermined current health directives by pointing to indecision from experts early in the pandemic.

Trump called Fauci a ‘disaster,’ but revealed he believes he cannot fire him.

‘Every time he goes on television, there’s always a bomb, but there’s a bigger bomb if you fire him. This guy’s a disaster,’ Trump vented.

‘Fauci is a nice guy,’ Trump said of the career civil servant, who has spent months cautioning Americans about avoiding large gatherings and indoor spaces through TV appearances. But complained: ‘He’s been here for 500 years.’

(Daily Mail)