/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f8360594208b7b791cdc282/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=3600&cropY1=191&cropY2=2217&w=1200&resize=1200,675&ssl=1 "Fauci Reportedly Did Not Consent To Appearing In Trump Campaign Ad")
Topline
Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s top infectious diseases official, told CNN that his appearance in a recent television advertisement for President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign was done without the doctor’s permission and included comments about the country’s coronavirus response that “were taken out of context,” he said, according to the broadcaster.
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci testified during … [+]
POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
Last week, the Trump campaign released a new 30-second spot that painted Trump’s pandemic response in a positive light, and featured footage of Trump returning to the White House after his weekend stint at Walter Reed Medical Center to be treated for coronavirus.
“I can’t imagine … that anybody could be doing more,” Fauci is shown saying in a clip, sandwiched between positive messaging by the Trump campaign about the president’s performance during the pandemic, which could possibly be taken as an endorsement by viewers.
However, Fauci told CNN the comments shown in the ad were a snippet of “a broad statement I made months ago about the efforts of federal public health officials,” from a Fox News appearance he made in March, and were used without his consent.
“In my nearly five decades of public service, I have never publicly endorsed any political candidate,” Fauci told CNN, a common action for many federal employees to make sure they avoid the appearance of being biased toward or against a political figure or party.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a Forbes request for comment.
Crucial Quote
“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,” Fauci told CNN in a statement.
Key Background
Fauci and Trump have disagreed about the coronavirus since the early days of the pandemic in the U.S. As Trump has largely downplayed the virus and the danger it poses to Americans, Fauci has repeatedly walked back the president’s claims and has been more cautious in his statements about coronavirus, though tends to be diplomatic when he contradicts Trump. However, a tension appears to have developed between the two men. In April, Trump retweeted a message that it was “time to #FireFauci.” Fauci, along with the rest of the White House coronavirus task force, has stayed mum about Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis. Fauci also declined to comment to CNN about Trump leaving the hospital for a makeshift parade while he was in hospital being treated for coronavirus, a move that was heavily criticized by some as being a publicity stunt that endangered others. Earlier this month, Fauci was named the Federal Employee of the Year.
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