
Dr. Anthony Fauci became a familiar figure standing beside Donald Trump at media briefings, never openly contradicting him but trying to steer him away from his worst ideas. (Photo: Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images)
'Propaganda': Trump Campaign Exposed for Using Dr. Fauci Out of Context in New Ad
'The comments attributed to me without my permission in the GOP campaign ad were taken out of context'
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious disease expert, told media outlets Sunday that he did not consent to being featured in an ad by the Trump campaign, saying his words were taken out of context.
"In my nearly five decades of public service, I have never publicly endorsed any political candidate. 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," Fauci said in a statement provided to NBC and CNN.
The ad, released last week shortly after the president was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center following treatment for COVID-19, touts the president's response to the virus. The ad includes a short clip of Fauci saying "I can't imagine that anybody could be doing more" in an attempt to make it appear as if he is praising Trump's response. But he was not.
Also Sunday, on ABC News' "This Week", host Jon Karl said he requested Fauci come on his show for an interview, and although Fauci was willing, the White House blocked Fauci's appearance.
Here is the new Trump 30-second TV spot:
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just three days to go in our Spring Campaign, we're falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious disease expert, told media outlets Sunday that he did not consent to being featured in an ad by the Trump campaign, saying his words were taken out of context.
"In my nearly five decades of public service, I have never publicly endorsed any political candidate. 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," Fauci said in a statement provided to NBC and CNN.
The ad, released last week shortly after the president was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center following treatment for COVID-19, touts the president's response to the virus. The ad includes a short clip of Fauci saying "I can't imagine that anybody could be doing more" in an attempt to make it appear as if he is praising Trump's response. But he was not.
Also Sunday, on ABC News' "This Week", host Jon Karl said he requested Fauci come on his show for an interview, and although Fauci was willing, the White House blocked Fauci's appearance.
Here is the new Trump 30-second TV spot:
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious disease expert, told media outlets Sunday that he did not consent to being featured in an ad by the Trump campaign, saying his words were taken out of context.
"In my nearly five decades of public service, I have never publicly endorsed any political candidate. 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," Fauci said in a statement provided to NBC and CNN.
The ad, released last week shortly after the president was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center following treatment for COVID-19, touts the president's response to the virus. The ad includes a short clip of Fauci saying "I can't imagine that anybody could be doing more" in an attempt to make it appear as if he is praising Trump's response. But he was not.
Also Sunday, on ABC News' "This Week", host Jon Karl said he requested Fauci come on his show for an interview, and although Fauci was willing, the White House blocked Fauci's appearance.
Here is the new Trump 30-second TV spot:

