House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is up for re-election, and President Donald Trump joked on Friday that he knows the perfect person for the Republican Party to run against her.
Trump said his own Dr. Anthony Fauci, whose regular press briefings with the president has made him a celebrity, would easily beat Ocasio-Cortez.
Dr. Fauci has so far declined.
CNN’s Jim Acosta asked Trump if he’d listen to experts’ opinions on when to re-open the country, and Trump said he would.
In fact, he listens to them all the time.
‘”I listen to them about everything, and I think they’re actually surprised,” Trump said.
“I have great respect for these people,” he said, gesturing toward his task force experts. “All of them, and others that are working with us.”
“I have great respect for this group,” Trump then joked, “In fact, I told Tony Fauci — I said why don’t you move to New York? Run against AOC, you will win easily.”
Fauci laughed and covered his face in embarrassment.
Dr. Fauci's reaction as Trump says he should run for office against AOC is priceless. pic.twitter.com/iQxNlg4Rvy
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 10, 2020
“But he decided that he’s not going to do that,” Trump said, turning towards Fauci. “I kid, by the way, you know that.”
In a separate interview on Saturday, Fauci confirmed that Trump works with the experts — despite what CNN’s Acosta suggested — and defended the administration’s decision to shut down the country (and economy) to help battle the Wuhan virus pandemic.
“We felt at the time and still do now that that was the right thing to do,” Fauci told Fox News’ Jesse Watters. “Could there have been other approaches? I mean, I’m humble enough to know that maybe there could be.”
“That was the choice we made. Based on the information that we have, one can always second-guess. But that happens,” he said. “This is a serious situation that has impacted a lot of people.”
Fauci went on to say that the president is trying to balance on the fine line between economic collapse and the safety of vulnerable people.
“That’s a consequence that you have to balance,” Fauci said.
“The attempt to save as many lives as you can — what is known is this has a deleterious effect on the economy, which is the reason why right now we’re looking very carefully about how we can possibly in a safe way reopen the country to the economic opportunities that we have.”
The Horn editorial team