Anthony Fauci faced death threats as he contradicted Trump over the Covid pandemic

Anthony Fauci faced death threats

Credit: Eric Baradat/AFP

Anthony Fauci and his family faced months of death threats after he started contradicting Donald Trump over the severity of the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to the New York Times, Dr Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, set out the difficulties he faced working with the former president.

The problems began when the pandemic gathered pace in the northeast of the US, especially around New York.

“I would try to express the gravity of the situation, and the response of the president was always leaning toward, ‘Well, it’s not that bad, right?’”

Dr Fauci was also alarmed by Mr Trump’s willingness to heed advice from associates, with no medical experience, on an array of “cures” for Covid.

“He would take just as seriously their opinion — based on no data, just anecdote — that something might really be important. It wasn’t just hydroxychloroquine, it was a variety of alternative-medicine-type approaches.”

Mr Trump was surrounding himself with people saying things which made no scientific sense, Dr Fauci said.

He was not keen to openly challenge Mr Trump, but Dr Fauci felt he had no alternative.

“It isn’t like I took any pleasure in contradicting the president of the United States. I have a great deal of respect for the office. 

“But I made a decision that I just had to. Otherwise, I would be compromising my own integrity, and be giving a false message to the world. 

“If I didn’t speak up, it would be almost tacit approval that what he was saying was OK.”

Members of the Mr Trump’s inner circle were upset that Dr Fauci was willing to contradict the president.

On a couple of occasions, Mr Trump would ask Dr Fauci why he was not being more positive.

The death threats began in March, which required Dr Fauci and his family to get Secret Service protection.

“It was the harassment of my wife, and particularly my children, that upset me more than anything else. 

“They knew where my kids work, where they live. The threats would come directly to my children’s phones, directly to my children’s homes.”

On another occasion, Dr Fauci was sent a letter containing white powder. Even though it was harmless, the incident was alarming.

Dr Fauci’s wife floated the idea of resignation, but this option was ruled out.

“I felt was important. I think in the big picture, I felt it would be better for the country and better for the cause for me to stay, as opposed to walk away.”