In diary, Fauci scoffed at moment Trump suggested ingesting bleach
Dr. Anthony Fauci reflected on the chaotic response to President Donald Trump’s suggestion during a April 2020 White House briefing that disinfectants could be used to treat COVID-19, expressing relief that he was not present at the event. Fauci described the briefing as a disaster, noting that trumps remarks led to a nearly fainting Deborah Birx and overshadowed other research on virus mitigation. Fauci’s writings, part of a 1,141-page document released by Senator Rand Paul, also detail an incident where trump angrily accused Fauci and Birx of destroying the country and economy during a heated Oval Office meeting. Fauci has faced continued scrutiny from Trump and allies over his handling of COVID-19 details. During a recent Senate hearing, Fauci invoked the fifth Amendment over 100 times when questioned about his pandemic response, with Senator Paul planning a vote on whether Fauci shoudl be held in contempt for refusing to answer further questions.
Dr. Anthony Fauci recalled the chaotic aftermath of President Donald Trump’s infamous suggestion that disinfectants could be used to treat COVID-19, writing that he was “thankful” he was not present at the White House briefing and describing then-White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Deborah Birx as nearly fainting during the episode.
The account appears in a 1,141-page trove of Fauci’s writings released Saturday by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), chairman of the Senate homeland security and governmental affairs committee, ahead of Fauci’s testimony before the panel on Wednesday.
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In the writings, Fauci recounted the fallout from an April 2020 White House press briefing, during which Trump suggested researchers should explore whether disinfectants or bleach-like substances could be injected or ingested as a potential treatment for COVID-19.
“The presser was a disaster for the POTUS,” Fauci wrote. “The POTUS incredibly made the comment that one should consider injecting or swallowing these disinfectants (including Clorox-like substances) as a ‘cure.’ Deb almost fainted on stage. Thank God I was not there.”
Fauci wrote that the briefing overshadowed a Department of Homeland Security presentation on research suggesting sunlight, heat, and humidity could reduce the virus’s viability. Instead, he said, media coverage focused on Trump’s clash with scientists, particularly Fauci.
According to Fauci’s account, Birx later called him after Trump summoned her to the Oval Office following the briefing.
“He started yelling at her saying, ‘You and Fauci have destroyed the country and the economy. I should never have listened to you. You have completely destroyed us,’” Fauci wrote, adding that Trump repeated the accusation several times.
Birx worked closely with Fauci during the COVID-19 pandemic, though she was often seen as more deferential to Trump between the two. Fauci has continued to draw the ire of Trump and his allies after reports alleging he hid information about the coronavirus’s origins.
Fauci’s Fifth Amendment answers may test Biden pardon as GOP eyes contempt
During Wednesday’s hearing, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times as Paul questioned him about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Paul has since scheduled a committee meeting for Aug. 5 to consider whether Fauci should be held in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer lawmakers’ questions.
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