Trump, Fauci at odds on reopening schools in U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday questioned the assessment of Anthony Fauci, a U.S. top infectious disease expert, on reopening the nation’s schools, a day after Fauci pleaded for caution in doing so.
“Look, he wants to play all sides of the equation,” Trump told reporters during a White House event when asked about Fauci’s comments at a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
“I was surprised by his answer actually,” Trump said. “It’s just, to me it’s not an acceptable answer, especially when it comes to schools.”
“I think you should absolutely open the schools. Our country has got to get back, and it’s got to get back as soon as possible. And I don’t consider our country coming back if the schools are closed,” he added.
- Fauci says coronavirus outbreak in U.S. not yet under total control
- Trump administration eager to reopen country as total COVID-19 cases top 1.25 mln
Fauci, a leading member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, told U.S. lawmakers a day earlier that it would be “a bridge too far” to expect a vaccine or treatment to be available by fall to facilitate students returning to college campuses.
He also pushed back on the claim that schools should be reopened because the coronavirus does not appear to be as lethal to young children.
“In the numbers that children, in general, do much much better than adults and the elderly, and particularly those with underlying conditions, but I am very careful and hopefully humble that I don’t know everything about this disease, and that’s why I’m very reserved in making broad predictions,” the expert explained. “We really better be very careful, particularly when it comes to children.”
The remarks came as the United States is debating whether it is safe for states to open up, prompted by a growing economic pressure and massive job losses amid concerns over a possible surge in coronavirus cases and fatalities if steps are not taken properly.
Nearly 1.4 million people in the United States have been infected with the coronavirus, with more than 84,000 deaths, according to the latest count by Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday.
Fauci has broken with Trump on a number of issues related to the administration’s response to the pandemic, including the president’s claim about the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine and his assertion that the virus may not return in the fall.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Fauci, 79, tried to downplay any rift with Trump.
“As I mentioned many times, I give advice and opinion based on evidence-based scientific information,” Fauci said. “He hears that, he respects it. He gets opinions from a variety of other people, but in no way in my experience over the last several months, has there been any confrontational relationship between us.”
In an interview with FOX Business, Trump called Fauci “a very good person,” adding that he has disagreed with the scientist.
“We have to get the schools open, we have to get our country open, we have to open our country,” Trump said. “Now we want to do it safely, but we also want to do it as quickly as possible, we can’t keep going on like this … You’re having bedlam already in the streets, you can’t do this. We have to get it open. I totally disagree with him on schools.”
Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander came to the defense of Fauci after some Republican colleagues and conservative commentators criticized his warnings about the coronavirus outbreak.
“So I wouldn’t characterize him as trying to be omniscient,” Alexander said of Fauci. “I don’t think he tries to do that all. I think he tries to give good advice and then you can take the advice or leave it.”
Fauci is cited most often as the official Americans rely on for information regarding the coronavirus pandemic, according to a study released late April.
The study, conducted by the Center for the Digital Future at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and the Interactive Advertising Bureau, showed that
Fauci was chosen by 45 percent of those surveyed, while participants’ “own state’s governor” was cited by 35 percent, and Trump by 20 percent.
Source: Xinhua
Donald “Racoon Head” Trump is very keen for schools to be reopened in the U.S. because he now realises that his formal education does not even reach the level of a FIRST-GRADER ( therefore HE needs to ‘go back to school’ – and the sooner the better !).
For a total narcissist like him to come a distant third behind Dr. Fauci in a survey of Americans ‘as the official relied on for information regarding the coronavirus pandemic’ must come like a ‘punch in the guts’ from a World Champion boxer.
On the other hand, the effect of that metaphorical injury will disappear a lot quicker than would the result of ingesting bleach – the U.S. President’s suggestion for ‘curing’ Wuhan flu.
Donald should take note of that old saying :
“It is better to remain quiet and be thought a fool than open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”
Repetitive in my writings, is the highlighting of the total incompetent individual – Donald. J. Trump, the 45th Elected President of the United States of America.
He continues to display total lack of basic skills to hold and perform in the role that he was appointed.
His appointment was not the total of voters number 1 choice, but that is the stupidity that is the American voting system for there Presidents.
The world stage in his Presidency prior to this novel coronavirus pandemic, was exposed to the inadequacy and failings of this individual to be the President of the United States, responsible for a country of 350 plus million human beings.
Academically he was totally un-qualified for the position, and his life, prior to his elevation to the Presidency, a bankrupt on (2) two occasions, and business dealing constantly surrounded and embroiled in controversy, his time as President, was going to be a shambles.
The inabilities of the individual to Lisen just escapes Him, and his believed opinion by himself that he is an authority on ALL makes himself a laughable individual.
He will continue to catapult America into the abyss it is in.
He will see a legacy in his time of office deaths from this novel coronavirus, through his total inability to LISEN, to those who with intelligence have forgotten more than he will ever have, deaths that total in excess of 200,000 of his fellow Americans.
America under Donald. J. Trump – will continue to implode and when this will subside, that is the question the World may want to seriously ask itself and re-examine there countries overall positions, across the board with America.
Tere still is mass waters to pass under the bridge in the total American Political landscape and there Failing economy.
The comments expressed by : Istvan Kiraly & Gary. J .A. Booth-Hansen – totally express patterns of similarity, and rest comfortable with me, in regards to the Major Failings of Donald J. Trump – President of the United States of America.
The BIG picture that has and is Happening in America is that no person of authority – Republican Party Power Brokers, are – LISENING.
Is it they are intellectually naive or lacking spline and strength of character or they are worried about there pockets – there positions and Republican Party image reputation ???
They are Americans, and they think always what is best for me and the rest, it will sort it-self out later ///
This blinded self centered mental Failing attitude suits Trump, he is of course tarnished with the same exact style of handling and treatment of human beings, and is left totally un-challenged & Feared.
His reputation – renowned prior to his Presidential election – in public life, a history, that if you “rock the boat”, stray from my ways of doing things, you will be dispatched, out the back door and publicly Humiliated by me -Trump – in an explanation of reasons for the individuals removal, that is built around Fabricated Lies.
How many press secretary’s has he Shafted and WHY – ???
Factorial based polling indicators are recording, a widening disapproval ratings for the 45th appointed American President.
They reflect the Truth.
This disapproval public rating of performance will substantially widened in the next 4 – 6 weeks, as figures of deaths from this novel coronavirus pandemic grow, and the entire United States of America’s economy declines – Uncontrollable.
The intent of this next personal opinion is not to Excite a situation, or be in agreement of such a course be taken, but there may be, through the capitulation of the internal functions of America, it’s broadsheet operation, and it’s domestic self imposed strangulation, the hangman being Donald. J. Trump, the possibility of Internal Revolutions – numerous, being seen and witnessed in the United States of America.
There is a continuous mounting of Pain, in society across the width and breath of America, and it’s being Ignored from the White House, the Republican Party of America, and by its “bimbo” of a President.
This is a time in the History of Mankind that must be driven by Factorial Honesty in the Transparency of Information.
President Donald. J. Trump of the United States of America is not capable of understanding and exercising the needs of Honest Transparency.
This would NEVER occur, but a Healing exercise that America could consider could be.
The Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. could be it’s setting.
Seated directly in front of the impressive statue of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America, are (4) four former Presidents of the United States of America.
They are :
(1) – Barrack Obama.
(2) – Bill Clinton.
(3) – George W Bush.
(4) – Jimmy Carter.
They ALL are Democratic Party elected Presidents of the United States of America.
The theme of bringing them together could simple be – My Fellow Americans – We are in a Crisis.
Each of them could speak for not more than 10 mins, outlining ways forward and into the future or the Resurrection of America.
From the Heart Stuff – honesty, admission past wrongs of way, but the way out and the FUTURE – what needs DOING.
It would be riveting stimulating prime time television BUT could be a saving grace for America, as they must do something before they are just a shell of the might they where in this Global World, not helped by a current President who is totally out of his depth and station in life, as President of the United States of America.