ABC Newsâ Chief White House Correspondent Jon Karl is advising the Trump administration to listen to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nationâs top infectious disease expert, amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Co-host of âThe Viewâ Sunny Hostin asked Karl what he thinks about reports of Trump discrediting and distancing himself from Fauci.
Karl argued while the Trump administration may not like how Fauci delivers the information, he is a trusted voice.
âThey realize that as this pandemic gets worse, you may not like Fauciâs tendency to bluntly tell the truth, but he is the leading expert on this issue. You cannot sideline him,â Karl said.
Watch his comments below:
Karl said Trump spoke with Fauci on Thursday and they both âjumped all overâ Peter Navarro, director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, over his op-ed slamming Fauci for his response to the coronavirus.
In the USA Today op-ed, Navarro claimed Fauci âhas been wrong about everything,â as IJR previously reported.
As he left the White House on Wednesday, Trump was asked about Navarroâs op-ed.
Trump said, âHe shouldnât be doing that,â as IJR previously reported.
Karl explained while the White House is adamant Navarro did not receive permission to run the op-ed, it is âvery consistentâ with what others at the White House have been saying about Fauci in recent days and weeks.
Karl noted Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff for communications, posted a cartoon mocking Fauci.
USA Today later added an editorial note to Navarroâs op-ed claiming it did not meet the publicationâs fact-checking standards.
On Monday, Trump declared he has âa very good relationship with Fauci.â
During a campaign press call on Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pencecalled Fauci a valued member of the White House coronavirus task force.
Fauci called Trumpâs attempts to discredit him âa bit bizarreâ and claimed it only hurts Trump in the end.
