President Donald Trump is turning his attention to Dr. Anthony Fauci, almost three weeks before Election Day. The Republican politician decided to use Fauci’s past statements in a new campaign ad.
In the clip, the famous scientist praises the administration’s work in handling the coronavirus pandemic. There is one problem, Fauci has also criticized Trump’s approach, and the health expert has never endorsed a politician in the past.
Fauci said in a statement to CNN: “In my nearly five decades of public service, I have never publicly endorsed any political candidate. The comments attributed to me without my permission in the GOP campaign ad were taken out of context from a broad statement I made months ago about the efforts of federal public health officials.”
Trump, who never shies away from a fight (even when there is not much to gain), hit back with: “They are indeed Dr. Fauci’s own words. We have done a “phenomenal” job, according to certain governors. Many people agree…And now come the Vaccines & Cures, long ahead of projections!”
The ad contains the following message: “President Trump is recovering from the coronavirus, and so is America. Together we rose to meet the challenge, protecting our seniors, getting them life-saving drugs in record time, sparing no expense. President Trump tackled the virus head on, as leaders should.”
Fauci said this in it: “I have been devoting almost full time on this. I’m down at the White House virtually every day with the task force. It’s every single day. So, I can’t imagine that under any circumstances that anybody could be doing more.”
One potential voter reacted to the controversy by saying: “I saw the commercial about an hour ago and I KNEW that clip was bs. All Trump’s people know how to do is lie. And they don’t even do THAT well.”
A second comment read: “I saw that damn commercial four times today, and each time I said, ‘Now why they twist the doc’s words like this?'”
A Fauci skeptic explained: “This dude is another clown when the pandemic came he told us the masks were not necessary unless you’re sick he keeps changing like a chameleon.”
Trump is trailing in the latest polls and is throwing everything at his opponent, Democrat Joe Biden, hoping something will stick.