Biden Asks Fauci to Be Chief Medical Adviser: 'I Absolutely Accepted on the Spot'
Dr. Fauci says he didn't hesitate and immediately accepted Democrat nominee's offer
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Dr. Anthony Fauci says he was asked to be Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden's "chief medial advisor," revealing that he "absolutely" accepted the offer and "said 'yes' right on the spot."
On Friday morning, Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), revealed the deal he's struck with Biden during an interview on NBC News’s “TODAY.”
Biden said in an interview with CNN on Thursday that he has asked Fauci to stay on in his "administration" if he wins the election.
He said he's asked him to serve “in the exact same role he’s had for the last several presidents” – NIAID's director – and said that he had asked Fauci to be a “chief medical adviser” as well.
Fauci didn't explain how accepting such job offers would impact his role's under President Trump's administration, however.
During his appearance on “TODAY,” Fauci was asked about his conversation with Biden, and whether he accepted the former vice president's offer.
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“Oh, absolutely,” Fauci said.
“I said 'yes' right on the spot, yeah.”
WATCH:
Will you accept President-elect Biden's offer to serve as his chief medical adviser? -@SavannahGuthrie
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 4, 2020
Absolutely, I said yes right on the spot. -Dr. Anthony Fauci pic.twitter.com/lHr3z1v3vo
Biden's incoming chief of staff, Ronald Klain, reacted to Fauci's acceptance not long after the interview, saying: "There are few public servants in our history who have served as long and as well and with as much distinction at Dr. Tony Fauci."
"It will be a great honor to work with him again," Klain tweeted.
There are few public servants in our history who have served as long and as well and with as much distinction at Dr. Tony Fauci. It will be a great honor to work with him again. https://t.co/JghEPQtTlF
— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) December 4, 2020
Fauci has served as an integral member of President Trump’s White House Coronavirus Task Force.
O Thursday, Biden called for a nationwide mandatory "mask-wearing" order to include every American, lasting for 100 days, in order to drive down the number of coronavirus cases.
"The first day I'm inaugurated I'm going to ask the public for 100 days to mask," Biden said.
"Just 100, not forever — 100 days.”
"I think we'll see a significant reduction that occurs with vaccinations and masking to drive down the numbers considerably.”
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Biden's comments came a day after the U.S. recorded a new high in coronavirus-related fatalities on Wednesday, at 2,804, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
When asked whether Biden’s move to suggest masks for just 100 days was too short of a time period, and providing false hope that the pandemic could come to a full stop at the end of that period, Fauci defended the Democrat’s comments.
“No, no. He didn’t mean it that way,” Fauci said.
“He just wants to get – it’s a good idea – uniform.
"He’s saying, 'hey, folks, trust me, everybody for 100 days'.
“Now, it might be that after that, we’re still going to need it,” Fauci explained.
“But he just wants it — everybody for a commitment for 100 days.”
Fauci added: “And I discussed it with him and I told him I thought that was a good idea.”
The nation – which has logged more than 14 million cases and more than 275,000 deaths since the pandemic began – also recorded 200,070 new daily COVID-19 illnesses, though it did not surpass a previous daily case record set Nov. 27 of 205,557.
The record daily death toll coincides with news of a record number of hospitalized coronavirus patients, topping 100,000 on Tuesday.
The grim milestone comes as health officials warned of surges tied to holiday travel and lockdown fatigue.
