President Trump responded to Dr. Anthony Fauci’s refusal to answer questions before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, citing over 100 invocations of the Fifth Amendment. The committee has been grilling Fauci about the handling of the COVID‑19 pandemic and alleged misinformation. Trump’s remarks were made during a White House press conference on Wednesday.
Senator Rand plans to vote next week to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer questions, arguing that the Fifth Amendment invocation was unlawful. The motion would formally challenge Fauci’s refusal to cooperate with the committee.
When asked whether Fauci should face contempt proceedings, Trump declined to comment on potential repercussions. He refrained from offering a definitive stance on the matter during the briefing.
Trump said he had watched the entire hearing and had been involved with Fauci’s work, noting that he had inherited Fauci’s responsibilities in the 1980s. He stated that he would have shut down the country if he had listened to Fauci’s advice. The president described his approach as “Federalist,” allowing governors to decide on pandemic measures, and claimed that Republican governors performed better than their Democratic counterparts.
Trump criticized Fauci’s mask policy, claiming the scientist initially opposed masks, then mandated multiple layers, which he said contributed to mistakes. He argued that Fauci was not a significant factor in his administration, but was a major factor during the next administration. Trump asserted that fewer people died under his leadership than in the following administration.
During the press conference, a question was posed about reopening the investigation into Biden’s autopen pardons. Trump defended the pardons, marking a shift from earlier statements that questioned their legality. He emphasized that the pardon power is the most powerful tool available to a president and expressed respect for the pardons issued by the current administration.
Trump admitted uncertainty about whether the current president signed the Hunter Biden pardon and noted that legal proof, such as letters and documentation, is required to validate such actions. He suggested that the autopen could have implications, but reiterated the strength of the pardon authority.
When asked why Fauci refused to answer the Senate’s questions, Trump said that Fauci’s lawyer advised him to invoke the Fifth Amendment. He stated that he had never been a fan of Fauci and that the lawyer’s guidance was the primary reason for the refusal.
