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‘Great way to end weekend’: Internet rejoices over Fauci’s takedown of Sen Ted Cruz

The spat between Fauci and Cruz continues after NIAID director hits back 'What happened on Jan. 6, senator?', causing the net to erupt in celebration

Dr Anthony Fauci and Senator Ted Cruz's long-running spat went up a notch on November 28, after Fauci's comment on the January 6 insurrection. The response came after Cruz called for Fauci to be prosecuted over the Covid-19 crisis, as Republicans continue to blame him for the way things have spiraled out of control. 

Fauci's comments came as he was addressing the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, which was first detected in Southern Africa in late November. The variant has once again sparked travel restrictions, with the US joining most nations in limiting travel to and from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique among other nations. It's led Fauci to warn of a possible fifth wave, as vaccinations rates in the US slowdown, thanks to strong anti-vax sentiments promoted by the GOP.

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Ever since the last days of the Trump administration, Fauci has been at loggerheads with Republicans like Cruz, Paul Rand, and even Donald Trump himself over the pandemic. They have also accused him of lying to Congress about the NIH's funding of "gain of function" research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. But it appears the Doctor isn't too concerned, offering a sharp rebuke of not just Cruz, but the entirely of the GOP.

'There’s a distinct anti-science flavor'

Fauci was speaking to CBS’ Margaret Brennan on a 'Face The Nation' interview that aired on November 28 when he made the comments. Brennen told America's top infectious disease expert that Cruz "told the attorney general you should be prosecuted." It's something Cruz has said multiple times, including in a series of tweets the same day the interview aired. "No amount of ad hominem insults parroting Democrat talking points will get Fauci out of this contradiction. Fauci either needs to address the substance—in detail, with specific factual corroboration—or DOJ should consider prosecuting him for making false statements to Congress," Cruz tweeted on November 28.

But rather than get annoyed or angry, Fauci appeared to see the funny side of Cruz's attacks. "Yeah. I have to laugh at that. I should be prosecuted? What happened on Jan. 6, senator?" he hit back, with a smile. It wasn't the only time he took shots at the GOP. At another point, he said the GOP was spreading lies and misinformation in order to deflect from their association with and support for Trump. "You have to be asleep not to figure that one out ... I’m just going to do my job and I’m going to be saving lives and they’re going to be lying."

"So it’s easy to criticize, but they’re really criticizing science because I represent science. That’s dangerous," he added, noting, "Anybody who’s looking at this carefully realizes that there’s a distinct anti-science flavor to this."

'You have to love Dr. Fauci'

Those words quickly went viral, as the internet celebrated the takedown of Cruz. "Dr. Fauci implying Ted Cruz should be prosecuted for Jan 6–a great way to end this Thanksgiving weekend," one person tweeted. Another said, "Fauci said GOP attacks against him are 'nonsense' and he had to 'laugh when Cruz said he should be prosecuted. You have to love Dr. Fauci." Another replied, "As annoying as it is to have Cruz’s bad-faith claims and stunts passed off as serious or credible, I did thoroughly enjoy Fauci’s 1/6 dig at him in response."

"Dr. Fauci has Cruz control down to an art!" another joked. One user tweeted, "SAY IT LOUDER, DR. Fauci!!!! Cruz is a disgusting traitor to this country, and Americans deserve to know it!!!!" Another said, "I don;t know about y'all but i still stand with and trust Dr. Fauci, Republican idiots like Rand Paul and Ted Cruz can go screw themselves."

A large number of people also hit back at Fauci, pushing Cruz's claims he needed to be prosecuted. It's just the latest in the long-running war of words between Fauci and the GOP. Judging by his reaction though, the doctor clearly has no issues holding his ground.