--- title: "Fauci Describes White House Behavior as “Bizarre”" description: "In an interview with the Atlantic published today, Fauci described the White House's attacks against him as \"bizarre\" and \"nonsense.\"" date: "2020-07-15" modified: "2020-07-15" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/fauci-describes-white-house-behavior-as-bizarre" categories: - "Developments" - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "coronavirus" - "covid19" - "donald trump" - "fauci" - "white house" --- # Fauci Describes White House Behavior as “Bizarre” ![In an interview with the Atlantic published today, Fauci described the White House's attacks against him as "bizarre" and "nonsense."]() *\Image: Bluerasberry\* Rather than concerning itself with coronavirus cases surging in the country, the White House seems determined to [undermine and discredit]() top US infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci — a decision that has mystified the immunologist, according to an interview today with the *Atlantic*. Fauci's remarks follow a confusing week of attacks from the Trump administration. In a [*Fox News* interview]() with Sean Hannity last week, president Donald Trump himself took aim at Fauci, claiming that "he's made a lot of mistakes." Over the weekend, trade adviser Peter Navarro piled on, heavily criticizing Fauci's response to the pandemic in a [*USA Today* opinion piece](). He claimed that Fauci "has been wrong about everything I have interacted with him on," including an early flip-flopping on the importance of masks and underplaying the risks of the then-growing pandemic. Days later, Trump attempted to distance himself from Navarro, claiming he "made a statement representing himself," to reporters this week, as the [*Washington Post* reported](). "He shouldn’t be doing that," he added. In an [interview with the *Atlantic*]() published today, Fauci described the White House's attacks against him as "bizarre" and "nonsense." Fauci isn't planning on admitting any mistakes. "I stand by everything I said," he told the magazine. "Contextually, at the time I said it, it was absolutely true." To many, discrediting Fauci is an inherently political move that's likely to keep life-saving information out of the hands of the American public. "I cannot figure out in my wildest dreams why they would want to do that," Fauci told the *Atlantic*. "I think if you talk to reasonable people in the White House, they realize that was a major mistake on their part, because it doesn’t do anything but reflect poorly on them," he added. But the damage was done with Navarro's scathing op-ed. "When the staff lets out something like that and the entire scientific and press community push back on it, it ultimately hurts the president," Fauci argued. Fauci also said that he has no intentions of quitting now. Trump seems to be desperate to come out on top after the inexplicable back and forth, despite the White House's scattered responses. [According to *Fox News*](), Trump told reporters in the Oval Office today that "I have a very good relationship with Dr. Fauci." "We’re all on the same team, including Dr. Fauci," Trump added. Fauci [hasn't actually spoken]() with the president for over a month, according to a [*Financial Times* report]() last week. ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()