Anthony Fauci described the Republicans’ attacks as “bizarre” after a flurry of criticism from senior Republican figures.
The infectious disease specialist who led the U.S. effort against Covid-19 was forced to defend himself after a former Trump official called him “the father of the real virus” and Senator Lindsey Graham followed other Republicans in calling for Fauci – chief medical officer for Joe Biden, advisor and head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to travel to the US-Mexico border.
Speaking to Fox News, Fauci said he became a scapegoat for right-wing figures.
“I have been a symbol for them of what they dislike about anything that has to do with things that are contrary to them, anything outside their own realm,” he said.
At the a flood of tweets on Friday, Graham, from South Carolina, told Fauci: “You need to go to the southern border and witness in person the biggest over-broadcast event in the country.”
Graham was referring to thousands of migrants being kept in overcrowded conditions. The government said asylum seekers are tested for coronavirus on arrival in the United States. It was not clear what Graham thought a visit to Fauci would achieve.
“It’s a little bit bizarre, I would say,” said Fauci. “I mean … Lindsey Graham, who I like, he’s … you know, he’s a good person, I’ve been dealing with him very, very well over the years, you know, comparing me to the things that have to do at the border? I mean, I have nothing to do with the border.
“Having me at the border, that’s not what I do”.
Fauci, 80, has served seven presidents since 1984, leading the fight against AIDS and HIV before emerging as the trusted public face of attempts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday, Peter Navarro, who served in various roles under Donald Trump, released a bizarre speech during an interview with Fox News.
Asked about Fauci’s comment that his search for a vaccine was “the best decision [I] never done, ”said Navarro:“ Fauci is a sociopath and a liar. He had nothing to do with the vaccine. The father of the vaccine is Donald J Trump.
“What is Fauci the father of? Fauci is the father of the real virus. “
Fauci replied, asking, “How bizarre is that? Think about it for a second. Isn’t it a little strange? I mean, come on. “
Last week, Mark Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff, accused Fauci of remaining silent about conditions at the border. An Alabama congressman also asked Fauci to get involved. In February, Marco Rubio, Florida senator, criticized Fauci, saying that his job “is not to deceive or scare” the American public.
Fauci hesitated when asked to respond.
“I’m so busy trying to do some important things to preserve the health and safety of the American people that I can’t be bothered to be distracted by these people who are doing these ad hominems,” he said.