Dr Fauci labels death threats from 'anti-science' people 'amazing', forced to get security for his daughters
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and White House health advisor, said on Wednesday, August 5, that he and his family continued to receive death threats and face harassment from people who disagreed with his advice on staying healthy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and as a result, he has had to seek security to ensure the safety of his family.
“The unseemingly things that crises bring out in the world, it brings out the best of people and the worst of people, and getting death threats to my family and harassing my daughters to the point where I have to get security — it’s amazing,” Fauci said in an interview with CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Harvard’s School of Public Health website that was streamed on Facebook live.
He added that since April he has had to amp up the security detail for his family as they started receiving death threats. “I wouldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams that people who object to things that are pure public health principles are so set against it and don’t like what you and I say, namely in the world of science, that they actually threaten you,” Fauci said. “I mean, that to me is just strange."
Not just people, even President Donald Trump has held opposing views on how to best contain the virus outbreak in the country. While Fauci has championed CDC guidelines such as wearing face coverings, social distancing and avoiding large crowds, Trump has undermined the same with both his words and actions.
“There is a degree of anti-science feeling in this country,” Fauci said. “I think it’s not just related to science, it’s almost related to authority and mistrust in authority that spills over because in some respects, scientists because they’re trying to present data may be looked at ... as being an authoritative figure."
Although a section of the country detests Fauci, there is another portion of the nation where he is extremely popular. His popularity is so unique that he featured on the cover of Instyle Magazine’s September issue. We reported earlier that photographer Frankie Alduino went to Fauci's house to shoot the fashion cover. Fauci wore a button-down shirt, black pants, brown leather shoes, and shades for the shoot.
The shoot took place at the poolside and he also gave an interview to Norah O’Donnell for the feature. During the interview, Fauci was asked how long he could see himself working at NIAID; he confidently replied that he had no plans of quitting in the agency in the coming years.
“I don’t see any termination within the near future because I judge [my career] by my energy and my effectiveness,” he said. “And right now, with all due modesty, I think I’m pretty effective. I certainly am energetic. And I think everybody thinks I’m doing more than an outstanding job. I have a wife with incredibly good judgment, who will probably give me the signal when it’s time to step down. But I don’t think we’re anywhere near that right now.”
