National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases director and a key member of the White House virus task force, Dr. Anthony Fauci, recently admonished President Donald Trump's campaign for using his words in an ad.
The ad uses a months-old video of Fauci that's edited to imply praise for Trump's handling of the virus that's killed over 200 thousand Americans,
In reality, Fauci was noting the hard work of the virus task force and its multiple efforts to contain the highly contagious virus—not Trump's response, which hovers at about 35 percent approval with the public.
Fauci admonished the administration for deceptively using his words:
"In my nearly five decades of public service, I have never publicly endorsed nor do I now endorse any political candidates. The comments attributed to me without my permission in the GOP campaign ad were taken out of context from a broad statement I made months ago about the efforts of federal public health officials."
But Fauci shouldn't be holding his breath for an apology from the campaign. Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said that the ad uses Fauci's actual words and says there are no plans to pull the ad from the airwaves.
While the Trump campaign may not be offering an apology, Democratic nominee Joe Biden used Trump's tactics to create one using the President's own words.
Watch below.
Donald Trump is running TV ads taking Dr. Fauci out of context and without his permission.
So, here's a message from the President in his own words. pic.twitter.com/WCYbIfrQLR
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 12, 2020
The video shows various clips of Trump edited together to make him say:
"I am failing at managing the [virus] outbreak, so I used Dr. Fauci in an ad to say I'm doing a good job, but it's fake. He never said that...He meant it for the task force, not me. Sorry to Dr. Fauci and sorry to everyone else."
People applauded the Biden campaign's masterful trolling.
Good one👇🏽 https://t.co/2lDWdYdPy4
— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) October 13, 2020
Brilliant https://t.co/V6TV5KCOfw
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) October 12, 2020
In his own words. #TrumpIsALaughingStock https://t.co/mn1aHeutSx
— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) October 12, 2020
this is good -- sharp message with some humor. https://t.co/JuOLgm0qDC
— Judge Bob Vance (@BobVanceJr) October 12, 2020
This is good and fair. https://t.co/fbLYOwHtN5
— John Gruber (@gruber) October 12, 2020
This is simply awesome. https://t.co/UBnHMrxX37
— Dara Kass, MD (@darakass) October 12, 2020
Meanwhile, Trump began attacking Dr. Fauci on Twitter.
Actually, Tony's pitching arm is far more accurate than his prognostications. “No problem, no masks". WHO no longer likes Lockdowns - just came out against. Trump was right. We saved 2,000,000 USA lives!!! https://t.co/YyLyCsbZ7a
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 13, 2020
People are largely siding with Fauci.
Attacking the widely-respected Dr. Tony Fauci while holding potential superspreader rallies throughout battleground states.
Seems like a great way to win back those seniors and women voters concerned about how he's handled the pandemic. https://t.co/bMSEiDz1Rz
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 13, 2020
Wow. Trump is openly attacking Dr. Fauci, the most popular and trusted man in the country on the coronavirus. https://t.co/zrdnbC9CAr
— Zac Petkanas (@Zac_Petkanas) October 13, 2020
Definitely the smart political play to get into a dispute with America's most trusted doctor in the middle of a pandemic. This is some 9th dimensional chess right here. https://t.co/HFwFeuJfaA
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) October 13, 2020
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