Donald Trump doubled-down on defending the out-of-contexted edited statement by Dr. Anthony Fauci his campaign included in a new ad supporting his campaign.
In the ad, titled “Carefully,” Fauci is shown saying “I can’t imagine that anyone could have done more,” apparently praising Trump individually.
The quote, however, was selectively edited from an Fox “News” interview from March in which he was praising the efforts of the NIH team. “We’re talking about all hands on deck,” Fauci said. “I, as one of many people on a team, I’m not the only person. Since the beginning, that we even recognized what this was, I have been devoting almost full time on this. I’m down at the White House virtually every day with the task force. It’s every single day. So, I can’t imagine that under any circumstances that anybody could be doing more.”
Trump quote-tweeted an interview with campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh who said, “These are Fauci’s words.” Fauci, however, has complained that the Trump campaign is dishonestly representing his statement.
They are indeed Dr. Fauci’s own words. We have done a “phenomenal” job, according to certain governors. Many people agree…And now come the Vaccines & Cures, long ahead of projections! https://t.co/ANqKL4eBqJ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2020