During an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” President Donald Trump repeated his unsubstantiated claim that the pathogen will simply “disappear” one day. He also took a jab at Anthony Fauci, calling the country’s top infectious disease expert “a little bit of an alarmist” for urging elected officials to implement more health safety measures.
“Dr. Fauci’s made some mistakes, but I have a very good — I spoke to him yesterday at length — I have a very good relationship with Dr. Fauci,” Trump said. “He’s a little bit of an alarmist — that’s OK,” Trump told Fox News anchor Chris Wallace.
Trumps remarks came as Wallace suggested the president had made a mistake when he stated in January and February that the virus had largely been contained.
On Feb. 10, Trump said the virus would “miraculously” go away by April.
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“It’s going to disappear,” the president said later that month. “One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”
As of Sunday, the U.S. is leading the world in known coronavirus infections and deaths, with over 3.7 million cases and 140,000 deaths recorded nationwide, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
But Trump stood by his comments during his interview with Wallace.
“I’ll be right eventually,” the president said. “You know, I said, it’s going to disappear. I’ll say it again, it’s going to disappear. And I’ll be right.”
Asked if such a statement, which has been debunked by many scientists, discredits him, Trump said he didn’t think so.
Trump then bragged about being “right” more than anybody else.
“You know why it doesn’t discredit me? Because I’ve been right probably more than anybody else,” Trump said.
Watch:
WATCH: President Trump discusses the U.S. response to the coronavirus. Plus, his relationship with Dr. Fauci and much more. #FoxNewsSunday pic.twitter.com/JUo1c2i96Z
— FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) July 19, 2020
