Staff Reports
In a recent interview on the “No BS News Hour with Charlie LeDuff,” former Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo didn’t hold back when sharing his thoughts on Dr. Anthony Fauci’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Cuomo, Fauci “played politics” and was “intimidated by Trump” in order to “keep his job.”
Super major "Spin City" lie..https://t.co/CGEpDIuUEh
— Dan Altman (@retireddan2001) November 10, 2023
Despite describing Fauci as a “great civil servant” who has done a lot of good throughout his career, Cuomo suggested that Fauci allowed himself to be swayed by President Trump’s ever-changing narratives. Cuomo believes that Fauci was simply trying to maintain his position and was afraid of going against the president’s wishes.
Cuomo’s criticism of Fauci comes as no surprise, considering the controversies that surrounded Cuomo’s own handling of the pandemic. One such controversy involved his decision to order nursing homes to accept recovering COVID-19 patients, a move that led to the deaths of approximately 4,000 nursing home residents.
On this topic, Cuomo defended his actions by stating that, in the beginning, no one knew what they were dealing with, and he emphasized the importance of transparency and honesty in such unprecedented times. He criticized Trump for constantly making up new stories and giving inconsistent information to the American people, which only increased public anxiety.
It’s worth noting that Cuomo’s own tenure as governor came to an end in August 2021, as he faced multiple sexual harassment allegations from 11 women. Cuomo maintained that he stepped down from his position to ensure that the state government could remain focused on the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
While Cuomo’s observations about Fauci’s behavior during the pandemic may be colored by his own political leanings and experiences, they undoubtedly add fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding the handling of the COVID-19 crisis by political leaders and public health officials.
