In a recent interview, former president Donald Trump discussed former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci, saying that he would have fired Fauci under normal circumstances but did not do so because he did not believe he was allowed to.
Trump said this in an interview with Bret Baier, a host on Fox News, that aired on Tuesday night.
Trump said during the meeting that he has been told he has saved 100 million lives around the world but that he avoids talking about it extensively because of the political realities of being a Republican.
Baier pressed on, inquiring as to the basis for such reticence.
“Yeah, for some reason,” Trump said in response. Because opinions on vaccines are divided. Both fans and detractors exist for them. As a Republican, I can see things from both sides. However, mandates were something I was opposed to. Vaccinations and mandates don’t go hand in hand.
Rapidly changing the subject, Trump shifted the conversation to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alleging that DeSantis had a positive opinion of Fauci.
True, but you didn’t fire him,” Baier retorted. You gave him a chance and decided to keep him on.
Trump responded, “Well, technically I wasn’t entitled to fire him, but that wouldn’t generally stop me. Well, it’s just one of those things. It’s worth mentioning, though, that many vaccine advocates are more likely to identify as Democrats than Republicans.