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Fauci: Trump's Remarks Can Lead to 'Misunderstandings'

VOA News

   PresidentDonald Trump's top disease expert sayssome of what Trump
   expresses incoronavirusbriefings"could lead to some misunderstanding"
   about the facts.

   Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of theNational Institute of Allergy and
   Infectious Diseases, has become a household name and a familiar face
   because of the daily WhiteHousecoronavirus briefings.

   In an interview withSciencemagazine, Fauci said Trumplistens.
   Hesaidwhile he doesn't disagree with the president in substance, he
   wouldexpress it differently.

   "He goes his own way. He has his own style. But on substantive issues,
   he does listen to what I say," Fauci said.

   But thedoctorsaysthere isn't much he can do when Trump makesa
   misstatement.

   "I can't jump in front of the microphone and push him down. OK, he said
   it. Let's try and get it corrected for the next time,"Fauci said

   Fauci told the magazine that he will never call the coronavirus the
   "China virus," which is what Trumpconsistentlycalls itduring the
   briefings.

   The doctor indicated that these daily WhiteHousepressgatheringsmake him
   a bit uneasy becauseof relatively large number of people at the podium
   and reporters in the room.

   "I keep saying, 'Is there any way we can get a virtual press
   conference?' Thus far, no. But when you're dealing with the White
   House, sometimes you have to say things one, two, three, four times,
   and then it happens. So, I'm going to keep pushing."

   Faucisaidthat VicePresidentMike Pence, the head of the coronavirus task
   force, is much moreofa "bear" than Trump inkeepingpeople apart.

   Fauci said it isprematureto try tofigureout why the U.S. was
   underprepared for the outbreak. But for now, he saidpeople need
   tofollowthefundamentalguidelines in preventing the spread while
   maintainingwhat hecalls a "delicate balance" when considering
   moredrasticsteps.

   "There's a compromise. If you knock down the economy completely and
   disrupt infrastructure, you may be causing health issues, unintended
   consequences, for people who need to be able to get to places and
   can't. You do the best you can."

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