Sen. Susan Collins said she wants to hear more messaging from public health officials and less from President Trump.
After Trump declared a national emergency during a press conference on Friday, the Maine Republican told reporters that she would prefer experts in the field speak to the public about COVID-19 as it sweeps across the nation.
“I would like the president to step back and appoint one of our public health officials to be the spokesman as we go through dealing with this novel virus,” Collins said, noting that she would prefer the messaging be handled by Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert at the National Institutes of Health.
Fauci, who is respected on both sides of the aisle, is a longtime health official who told Congress on Thursday that the federal government was “failing” in its coronavirus testing capabilities.
“The system does not — is not really geared to what we need right now — what you are asking for. That is a failing. It is a failing. Let’s admit it,” Fauci told lawmakers.
Speaking in her home state, Collins praised Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills and the state for the steps it is taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but said messaging by federal officials was “inconsistent.”
“We are making progress at the federal level, but I am not satisfied with the response,” Collins said. “I think that the messaging at the federal level has been inconsistent and when you are dealing with a novel virus like this, it’s very important that health professionals be out front and that there be a consistent message.”
Trump declared a national emergency at the Friday news conference. There have been at least 2,110 cases and 48 deaths in 48 states.
