President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, is back in the public eye after keeping a relatively low profile following the impeachment trial against his client.
The Washington Post looked into what the former mayor of New York city has been up to with his promotion of untested medical advice.
What resulted was an exposé of Giulani's repeated attempts to promote treatments for the virus that experts say aren't feasible or even safe.
The article jogged the memory of New York Magazine's Washington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi, who shared a screenshot of her text conversation with Giuliani illustrating his fitness as an expert on pandemics.
Nuzzi posted:
"This [Josh Dawsey] story about Rudy Giuliani attempting to advise President Trump during the pandemic reminds me that on March 17, as the number of positive cases in the US soared past 5,000, Giuliani asked me what the phrase "social distancing" meant."
On March 16, Nuzzi sent a text to Giuliani asking about his health, to which he answered "fine thank you" a day later.
But when Nuzzi asked Trump's personal lawyer about "social distancing," Giuliani was stumped.
@Olivianuzzi/Twitter
The pandemic response guru who wants to advise the President responded:
"What does that mean"
People were not surprised by Giuliani's ignorance of CDC guidance considering who he is trying to impress with his recent efforts.
So convo not result of accidental Butt Tweet.
But still - #RudyGiuliani in public again, no longer Shadow Lawyer, Advisor, Collaborator, Tinker Tailor, Soldier Spy but private citizen Cult @Coronavirus Team backing #TrumpIsDangerous Rx prescription w/out Medical license.
— JoJo (@JoJoDiplomat) April 6, 2020
Some felt Giuliani was distancing from something.
"Knowledge distancing"
— JustAModerate (@JustAModerate) April 6, 2020
He's useless
— Cynthia Villarreal (@Cynthia31917443) April 6, 2020
This is the most Rudy Giuliani thing of all time. "What does that mean", amazing.
— AJ Jordan (@AAjjegowda) April 6, 2020
Well isn't this just another example of why we are behind the virus and not ahead of it?
— Michael Hawkins (@mhawk1220) April 6, 2020
People noted another expert status Giuliani bestowed upon himself.
Come on, give the country's foremost cyber expert some slack.
— Roger Lie (@KegirK) April 6, 2020
Uh, Olivia, maybe you don't realize that Rudy is a very smart guy and runs a security company. Very smart.
— 🛑 stop (@somethingshift) April 6, 2020
Cyber security expert right there. pic.twitter.com/mCQi8aa473
— TangoWhiskyAlphaTango (@MehDoesntCovrIt) April 6, 2020
And one request was made over and over.
Please find out how @realDonaldTrump and @RudyGiuliani are making money off #HydroxychloroquineAndAzithromycin? Asking for 65 million friends.
— Ryanne@🏠 (@madiganr22) April 6, 2020
During a public health crisis, listening to people with no knowledge or qualifications in medicine, public health or science who contradict "academics" is unwise.
During a pandemic, ignorance kills.
The book Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11 is available here.