Trump threatens to fire Fauci in rift with disease expert

OPA-LOCKA, FL (AP) — President Donald Trump has suggested he’ll fire Dr. Anthony Fauci after Tuesday’s election.

Speaking Monday at a campaign rally in Florida, Trump expressed frustration that the surging cases of a virus that has killed more than 231,000 people in the United States remains in the news, sparking chants of “Fire Fauci” from his supporters. But Trump cannot directly fire Fauci, who isn’t a presidential appointee.

Democrat Joe Biden says the U.S. needs a president who “listens to experts” like Fauci. And former President Barack Obama defended Fauci while campaigning in Atlanta for Biden. Obama said Trump’s “second-term plan is to fire that guy, the one person who could actually help them contain the pandemic.”