Kennedy Poses a Threat to Trump as Fauci Draws GOP Criticism

The public criticism Dr. Anthony Fauci faced on Capitol Hill Monday highlighted his ongoing unpopularity with the conservative base of the GOP. Despite this, Republicans are trying to use this sentiment against the infectious disease expert. However, former President Donald Trump's previous support of Fauci could be a weakness as he battles against an independent campaign led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy's third-party campaign for the White House is gaining momentum by criticizing Trump's handling of Covid-19. He has accused Trump of creating lockdowns and has raised concerns about the safety of the Covid vaccine developed during his administration.

Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC on June 3.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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Key points from Dr. Fauci's testimony during a heated House hearing on the Covid-19 pandemic Kennedy has criticized President Trump for depending on Fauci, who previously led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and was part of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. He even created merchandise linking Trump and Fauci.

The new campaign shirts say, "Vote for Trump/Fauci 2024," with a playful slogan: "Give us another shot!"

Trump has tried to minimize Fauci's importance in his administration. In a recent interview with Tim Pool, a podcaster popular among the far right, Trump stated that Fauci "wasn't a major figure in my administration like he became after I left and Biden appointed him to various roles."

During Monday's House subcommittee hearing on the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Republicans focused on grilling Fauci without mentioning Trump. This marked Fauci's first public testimony on the Hill since retiring. However, Trump's party has increasingly targeted Fauci as a symbol of the consequences they hope to impose if the Republican leader is reelected. Supporters of Trump have suggested changes that would make it easier to dismiss federal employees, such as Fauci. Trump himself has claimed that he was unable to fire Fauci during his presidency due to laws protecting career civil servants.

At one point during the hearing, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia stated that Fauci "belongs in prison" for his handling of the pandemic. This sentiment has been echoed by other members of Congress and supported online by Trump's followers.

After the subcommittee chairman, Rep. Brad Wenstrup of Ohio, thanked Fauci for his years of service Monday, Laura Loomer, a conservative provocateur who operates on the edges of Trump’s political operation, criticized Fauci on social media. She called him a criminal and said he should not be thanked by the Republican Chair of the Select subcommittee on coronavirus.

Senator Kennedy has also expressed similar views. In a recent interview, conservative commentator Glenn Beck asked Kennedy why Fauci was not in jail. Kennedy replied by saying that Fauci is not in jail because Joe Biden is the president.

During the GOP primary, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis often used Fauci to criticize Trump from a conservative perspective. He pointed out that Trump had praised Fauci on his final day in office, trying to create a division between Trump and his supporters.

Trump later stated that he was unaware of who had given the commendation to Fauci. DeSantis humorously questioned if it was an unexpected or miraculous commendation.

DeSantis' attempts to reduce Trump's support within the GOP base were unsuccessful. Despite facing challenges to get on the ballot in all states, Kennedy has posed a threat to Trump with his focus on vaccines and the response to the coronavirus in his campaign.

According to a recent poll by Monmouth University, Republican support for Kennedy increased slightly after learning about his stances on vaccines and Covid. Although it is just one piece of data, it sheds light on why Trump has recently intensified his criticism of Kennedy.

David Robertson, a 50-year-old real estate developer from San Antonio, originally voted for Trump in the 2020 election. However, he changed his support to Kennedy after listening to the independent candidate discuss Covid on Joe Rogan's podcast.

Robertson explained that he felt misled by the previous administration in many ways. He mentioned that many things they were told turned out to be untrue. Specifically, he was disappointed in Trump's handling of the Covid pandemic towards the end. Robertson felt that the response, including the lockdowns, seemed to be dictated by others rather than being based on what was best for the country.

Trump has recently intensified his criticism towards Kennedy, calling him an "extreme liberal" and a "fake anti-vaxxer" in a video shared on social media. Kennedy is known for spreading misinformation about vaccines and holding beliefs that have been disproven by medical experts.

In the video, Trump stated, "RFK's stance on vaccines is false, just like everything else about his campaign."

Trump's relationship with the Covid vaccine has been complicated, despite it being one of the major accomplishments during his presidency. Initially, he stopped talking about the vaccine when it lost favor among Republicans. However, with criticism from DeSantis and Kennedy's growing popularity, he has now made statements against schools mandating Covid vaccines or masks.

In a recent interview with Time, Trump highlighted the success of the Covid vaccine development under Operation Warp Speed. However, he was hesitant to commit to pushing vaccines as vigorously if he had the opportunity again.

"I've received a lot of praise for Operation Warp Speed. Interestingly, most of this praise has actually come from Democrats," Trump mentioned. "I believe a significant number of Republicans also support it, but many of them choose not to vocalize their approval. It's something they prefer not to discuss openly."

Editor's P/S:

The ongoing animosity towards Dr. Anthony Fauci among the GOP's conservative base reflects a deep-seated political divide that transcends scientific evidence. The Republicans' attempts to exploit this sentiment for political gain are concerning, especially considering Fauci's unwavering dedication to public health. The fact that former President Trump, once an ally of Fauci, has now joined the chorus of critics exposes the opportunistic nature of his support.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign is tapping into this conservative distrust of Fauci and the Covid-19 response. His criticisms align with Trump's previous rhetoric, further complicating the political landscape. Kennedy's traction among Republicans, despite his dubious claims about vaccines, highlights the extent to which misinformation and partisan loyalties influence voter behavior. This raises questions about the future of evidence-based decision-making in the political arena.