Also Disputes Trump’s Claim That Virus Will Just Disappear On Its Own
Moments ago, Dr. Anthony Fauci said that the number of coronavirus deaths is “likely higher” than is being reported.
- Fauci said of the death toll: “I think you are correct that the number is likely higher. I don’t know exactly the percent higher but almost certainly it’s higher.” [Twitter, Sheryl Gay Stolberg, 5/12/20]
In direct contrast with what Dr. Fauci said, President Trump has wrongly suggested that the actual coronavirus death numbers are lower than reported:
- Axios reported that Trump and some top aides have questioned the accuracy of the coronavirus death toll, believing the real number is lower than is being reported.
- “President Trump has complained to advisers about the way coronavirus deaths are being calculated, suggesting the real numbers are actually lower — and a number of his senior aides share this view, according to sources with direct knowledge.” [Axios, 5/6/20]
- “What’s next: A senior administration official said he expects the president to begin publicly questioning the death toll as it closes in on his predictions for the final death count and damages him politically.” [Axios, 5/6/20]
.@SenSanders: “The official statistic is that 80,000 Americans have died from the pandemic. There are some epidemiologists who suggest the number may be 50% higher than that, what do you think?”
Dr. Fauci: "Most of us feel like the number of deaths are higher than that number…" pic.twitter.com/eKR89gGT7s
— Coronavirus War Room (@Covid19WarRoom) May 12, 2020
BONUS: Fauci also contradicted Trump’s claim that the virus would just “disappear”
Fauci with a subtle rebuke of Trump: "When you talk about 'will this virus just disappear' — and I've said publicly many times, that is just not gonna happen because it's such a highly transmissible virus." pic.twitter.com/af6xgx2dpb
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 12, 2020
- May 8, 2020: Trump Said Of Coronavirus: “But Eventually It’s Going To Go Away. The Question Is Will We Need A Vaccine. At Some Point It’s Going To Probably Go Away By Itself.” [Washington Post, 5/8/20]
- March 10, 2020: Trump Said Of Coronavirus: “And We’re Prepared, And We’re Doing A Great Job With It. And It Will Go Away. Just Stay Calm. It Will Go Away.” [White House Press Conference, Washington, DC, 3/10/20]
- February 28, 2020: Trump On Coronavirus: “It’s Going To Disappear. One Day — It’s Like A Miracle — It Will Disappear.” [Donald Trump, Meeting with African American Leaders, Washington, DC, 2/28/20]