(RepublicanNews.org) – After the recent public grilling of controversial figure Dr. Anthony Fauci in Washington, D.C., Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is using the resurgence of attention on the doctor to remind voters that despite the general opposition to Fauci from former President Donald Trump’s Republican base, the former president elevated and even enabled Fauci while in office.
On Monday, June 3rd, the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) director made an appearance on Capitol Hill to testify before a special House of Representatives subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic. The hearing focused on the public and government response to the outbreak as well as the virus’s origins. It was the first time Fauci gave public testimony about the events surrounding the virus since he retired from government service through the NIAID.
The hearing had some tense moments after Republicans questioned the former NIAID director about everything from the scientific basis of the health recommendations to the government and the public.
Kennedy’s independent campaign, in many ways, has its foundation in his opposition to the pandemic response, particularly vaccine mandates. Kennedy was a vocal opponent of these policies, challenging Fauci every step of the way. He’s now holding Trump accountable for his appointment of Fauci, the lockdowns, and “Operation Warp Speed,” which pushed the experimental vaccine out quickly.
The independent candidate even released campaign merchandise playing on this theme, linking Fauci and Trump. The new t-shirt on Kennedy’s campaign store reads, “Vote for Trump/Fauci 2024” and includes a slogan that says, “Give us another shot!”
He’s not the first candidate to try and use Trump’s association and history with Fauci while in office to dampen the former president’s political campaign. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, before dropping out of the race after the first primary contest in Iowa, was already employing that tactic while competing for the GOP nomination.
Supporters of Trump argue his hands were tied when it came to lockdown policies, that he was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t get more involved with how each state decided to respond. Critics believe he should have cracked down on mandates as federally unconstitutional.
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