Dr. Anthony Fauci could be sticking around even after President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
During an appearance on CNN, Jake Tapper asked Biden if he had spoken with Fauci and whether asked him to stay on during his administration.
“Yes and yes,” Biden said.
He added, “I asked him to stay on in the exact same role he’s had for the past several presidents and I asked him to be chief medical adviser for me as well and be part of the COVID team.
Watch his comments below:
Biden on Fauci: "I asked him to stay on in the exact same role he's had for the past several presidents and I asked him to be chief medical advisor for me as well." pic.twitter.com/XjowVjXfv2
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) December 3, 2020
Fauci confirmed Thursday he has spoken with Biden’s soon-to-be chief of staff, Ron Klain, but they were not “substantive” discussions, as IJR previously reported.
He said he would be meeting with Biden’s “landing team” Thursday.
“I’m going to be meeting with them today, by Zoom, by virtually. So today will be the first day where there will be substantive discussions about the transition between me and the Biden team,” Fauci said.
He continued, “I’m very pleased that today we’re having the first discussion about a number of things, vaccinations and things like that.”
Biden is willing to take the vaccine once it is proven to be safe, as IJR previously reported.
“Once it’s declared to be safe … I think what [former President Barack Obama] said, once Fauci says it’s clear — that’s my measure — then obviously we take it,” he said. “It’s important to communicate to the American people it’s safe. It’s safe to do this.”
Former President Barack Obama (D) said he may publicize his vaccination to create a sense of confidence around it.
“People like Anthony Fauci, who I know, and I’ve worked with, I trust completely. So if Anthony Fauci tells me this vaccine is safe, and can vaccinate, you know, immunize you from getting Covid, absolutely I’m going to take it,” Obama said.
He went on, “I promise you that when it’s been made for people who are less at risk, I will be taking it. I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed, just so that people know that I trust this science.”
