Dr. Fauci States His Words Were Taken Out of Context After Recent Trump Campaign Video Included Him Without Permission
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top medical advisor to the U.S., wants his words back.
This week, the conflict between Trump and Fauci did not have to do with coronavirus medical protocols. Instead, it arose after Trump’s campaign team use an out-of-context sound byte from an interview with Fauci, making it seem like he was endorsing the President.
There are multiple problems from this one advertisement that affect Dr. Fauci and the American public. First, of course, is the problem of consent. Fauci told CNN that he was not asked if that clip could be used in the advertisement, and he was not notified that it would be used.
After decrying the Trump campaign using video of him in a TV ad without his permission, Dr. Anthony Fauci repeated his displeasure. “By doing this against my will, they are in effect harassing me,” Fauci told CNN. https://t.co/Mr5lfN3T8m
— Joseph Frusci (@JFrusci) October 13, 2020
Second of all, the clip is entirely out of context. In the original interview for Fox News, Fauci described his fellow medical experts’ work as they are working tirelessly to produce and analyze new information about the virus to better inform the public of safety precautions.
“The comments attributed to me without my permission in the GOP campaign ad were taken out of context from a broad statement I made months ago about the efforts of federal public health officials,” Dr. Fauci says in a new statement.https://t.co/PDJnXD7GdQ
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 11, 2020
Third, Fauci takes his job very seriously in the fact that it is a bipartisan position. He has advised six U.S. Presidents, almost five decades of service, and has never once endorsed a political candidate for the highest office.
Fauci is a sitting government official and not a partisan. The Trump ad featuring him should be taken down immediately. https://t.co/bmIbVZVYD5
— Joel Rubin (@JoelMartinRubin) October 11, 2020
Lastly, Dr. Fauci has stated he wants the Trump Campaign to pull that advertisement from the air. Unfortunately, the communications director for the Trump campaign responded, saying, “These are Dr. Fauci’s own words. The video is from a nationally broadcast television interview in which Dr. Fauci was praising the work of the Trump Administration. The words spoken are accurate, and directly from Dr. Fauci’s mouth.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci says “it’s really unfortunate and really disappointing” that the Trump campaign featured him in an ad touting the President’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He tells @jaketapper that he thinks the ad should be taken down. https://t.co/PKSUBJ30KA pic.twitter.com/6pTqwWNGdI
— CNN (@CNN) October 12, 2020
Gen Z knows how important consent is, especially in media where false information can manipulate and harm others. While the Trump campaign hasn’t removed the ad yet, we know that this disrespects Fauci’s direct wishes stated on national television several times.
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