On Thursday morning, just hours after Biden’s inauguration, Dr. Fauci spoke to the World Health Organization’s executive board, telling the body that the United States would not comply with Trump’s requirement to leave the group through a pandemic.
“The United States is ready to work in partnership and solidarity to support Covid-19’s international response, mitigate its impact on the world, strengthen our institutions, move forward in preparing for epidemics for the future and improving the health and well-being of all people around the world the world, ”said Fauci in a video.
During the Trump administration, Dr. Fauci’s appearances in the White House briefing room were often preceded by disconnected and contentious meetings in the Oval Office with Trump and his aides, many of whom suggested optimistic scenarios or misleading data.
On Thursday, Dr. Fauci described a different scene.
“One of the things that became very clear recently, about 15 minutes ago, when I was with the president, is that one of the things that we are going to do is to be completely transparent, open and honest,” he said. “If things go wrong, don’t point fingers, but correct them and make everything we do based on science and evidence.”
Dr. Fauci paused, as if marveling at what he had just said.
“I mean, it was literally a conversation I had 15 minutes ago,” he said. “And he said that several times.”
A reporter noted that Dr. Fauci – who had last appeared in the conference room in November – had disappeared from public view late last year after angering Trump several times.
You are back now, he was asked.
He smiled and looked at Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary.
“I think so,” he said.