White House coronavirus response team member Dr. Anthony Fauci acknowledged that Americans have “an independent spirit” but that it is now time for them to do what they are told.
“I was talking with my U.K. colleagues who are saying the U.K. is similar to where we are now, because each of our countries have that independent spirit,” Fauci said on stage during a discussion with other health experts at Washington National Cathedral. “I can understand that, but now is the time to do what you’re told.”
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Many conservatives on Twitter were quick to condemn Fauci over the remark, including Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, a staunch Fauci critic in the past.
“Dr. Fauci: ‘Do what you’re told,’” Jordan tweeted. “Americans: ‘We can decide for ourselves.’”
Dr. Fauci:
“Do what you’re told.”Americans:
“We can decide for ourselves.”https://t.co/JOSgdh8Ojr— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) November 13, 2020
“BULLETIN FROM DR. ANTHONY FAUCI,” former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson tweeted. “YOU DO WHAT YOU’RE TOLD. ALL OF YOU. LOOK AT ME. ARE THESE THE EYES OF A GUY WHO’S PLAYING? REMEMBER THE OLD DAYS, WHEN I ACTED LIKE A KINDLY LIL ELF? YEAH, THAT WAS BEFORE THE ELECTION. BULLETIN FROM DR. ANTHONY FAUCI!”
BULLETIN FROM DR. ANTHONY FAUCI. YOU DO WHAT YOU’RE TOLD. ALL OF YOU.
LOOK AT ME. ARE THESE THE EYES OF A GUY WHO’S PLAYING? REMEMBER THE OLD DAYS, WHEN I ACTED LIKE A KINDLY LIL ELF?
YEAH, THAT WAS BEFORE THE ELECTION.
BULLETIN FROM DR. ANTHONY FAUCI!https://t.co/Ky5PlRaaqw
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) November 13, 2020
“Fauci is a little tyrant,” Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe tweeted.
Fauci is a little tyrant
— Lisa Boothe (@LisaMarieBoothe) November 13, 2020
Fauci said during the discussion Thursday that he rejected the notion that scientists supporting coronavirus restrictions are “authoritarian” and said science “lumped into politics” is responsible for causing that sentiment.
“All of a sudden, science gets caught in a lot of this divisiveness,” Fauci said.
Fauci has criticized President Trump’s response to the coronavirus several times, including recently when he said the country is “in for a whole lot of hurt.”
“It’s not a good situation,” Fauci said. “All the stars are aligned in the wrong place as you go into the fall and winter season, with people congregating at home indoors. You could not possibly be positioned more poorly.”
John Hopkins University reported earlier this week that the United States has hit 10 million confirmed coronavirus cases to go along with roughly 237,000 deaths.
