The nation’s leading infectious diseases expert shut down a line of questioning by a CNN anchor who asked why he touched the same podium and microphone as President Trump.
Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Trump participated in a news conference in the White House’s Rose Garden on Friday, where the two men, along with other officials, shared a microphone to speak with reporters about the coronavirus.
During an interview on State of the Union, host Brianna Keilar asked Fauci why he grabbed the same microphone as Trump when the two spoke about avoiding social contact to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“The picture you showed about the microphone, let’s get real here. There are certain things that you have to do. If I left the microphone like that, you would see nothing but the microphone,” Fauci said. “My putting my two fingers to get the microphone down isn’t that bad, so I don’t think we should make something of that.”
The White House announced on Saturday that Trump tested negative for the coronavirus after spending time with a member of the Brazilian delegation last weekend, who later tested positive for the coronavirus. Fauci noted he had not taken a coronavirus test and said he had no reason to do so.
“I have no symptoms. I have not — I’m practicing pretty good social distancing,” the doctor said. “But not everybody in the United States should take a test. I mean, I have no symptoms, there’s no reason for me to take a test. If I’m in a situation where I’m at a higher risk, I will take a test.”
Fauci has been working closely with Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the White House’s task force on the coronavirus.
