Fauci speaks out against 'bizarre' White House attacks: 'It's nonsense'


Dr. Anthony Fauci is hitting back against the "bizarre" recent attacks from the White House.
Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, spoke to The Atlantic on Wednesday after the White House recently sent a document to reporters listing instances in which he's been "wrong" in what was essentially opposition research against him. President Trump's trade adviser, Peter Navarro, also wrote an op-ed this week going after Fauci and claiming he "has been wrong about everything I have interacted with him on."
"[The White House document] is totally wrong," Fauci told The Atlantic. "It's nonsense. It's completely wrong. The whole thing is wrong. The whole thing is incorrect."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Fauci said he didn't know why the White House released the document, calling the decision to attack him "bizarre" and saying that "I cannot figure out in my wildest dreams why they would want to do that" but that "I think they realize now that that was not a prudent thing to do, because it's only reflecting negatively on them."
According to Fauci, he talked about the document with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who didn't offer an apology but claimed he didn't know about it. As far as Navarro goes, Fauci sounded equally baffled by his op-ed, saying, "I can't explain Peter Navarro. He's in a world by himself. So I don't even want to go there."
On Wednesday morning, the White House sought to distance itself from Navarro's op-ed, and President Trump said that his trade adviser "shouldn't" have published it.
Given the recent attacks, Fauci was asked in the interview if he's thought about resigning, but said, "No. I think the problem is too important for me to get into those kinds of thoughts and discussions."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Frauds: ‘fantastically stylish’ crime heist caper is a ‘triumph’
The Week Recommends Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker play a pair of ex-cons planning one last job
-
The struggles of Aston Martin
In the Spotlight The car manufacturer, famous for its association with the James Bond franchise, is ‘running out of road’
-
The end of ‘golden ticket’ asylum rights
The Explainer Refugees lose automatic right to bring family over and must ‘earn’ indefinite right to remain
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies