Trump says Fauci ‘a promoter more than anything’

Former President Trump in an interview released Monday labeled the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, Anthony Fauci, “a promoter more than anything” after the two sometimes clashed on the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I thought rather than firing him, you know, I listened to him, but I didn’t do what he said because, frankly, his record is not a good record,” Trump told the podcast “The Truth with Lisa Boothe.”

“I like him personally,” Trump continued. “He’s actually a nice guy. He’s a great promoter. He’s really a promoter more than anything else.”

When asked if he regretted “elevating” Fauci, Trump said, “Well, I didn’t really elevate him. He’s been there for 40 years. He’s been there forever.”

But Trump said Fauci has been “wrong so much” on COVID-19 recommendations, citing his early advice against masks that aligned with other experts at the time over a concern that there would not be enough protective equipment for health care workers.