Former White House chief medical advisor Anthony Fauci shared his concerns about future mask mandates.
Fauci told CNN that he was worried that many Americans won't comply with mask mandates if they arise in the future.
Fauci is ‘concerned’ that people won’t comply if masking recommendations return: 'I hope' they 'abide' https://t.co/Xrs7uCFBxq
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 4, 2023
"I would hope that if we get to the point that the volume of cases is such and organizations like the CDC recommends – CDC does not mandate anything – recommends that people wear masks, I would hope that people abide by that recommendation and take into account the risks to themselves and their families," Fauci told CNN.
"When you’re talking about the effect on the pandemic as a whole, the data is less strong," Fauci said. "But when you talk about an individual basis of someone protecting themselves … there’s no doubt that there are many studies that show that there is an advantage [to masks]."
WATCH: CNN Blindsides Fauci Live By Forcing Him To Confront The Facts On Maskinghttps://t.co/WCeltWRqgl
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) September 4, 2023
CNN also pushed back on the effectiveness of mask-wearing, now three years after the start of the pandemic.
"The most rigorous and comprehensive analysis of scientific studies conducted on the efficacy of masks for reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses — including Covid-19 — was published late last month,” Smerconish read from a The New York Times article.
“Its conclusions, said Tom Jefferson, the Oxford epidemiologist who is its lead author, were unambiguous. There is just no evidence that masks make any difference. Full stop," he continued.
The conversation took an unexpected twist as CNN and Fauci were butting heads on mask compliance after seemingly working in step during the pandemic to push lockdown restrictions.
The report is significant as COVID numbers have grown in some areas across the nation in recent weeks, leading some hospitals to restart mask restrictions and even some schools closing for a few days.
Fauci, now retired from his role, continues to take heat over his pandemic restrictions regarding masks, this time from an unlikely source friendly to his views in the past.
According to the New York Times, former President Donald Trump just indicated that he "absolutely" will continue his 2024 campaign for the U.S. presidency, even if federal investigators do indict him.
Trump indicated as much on Saturday just before he gave his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that was held in Washington D.C.
"I won't even think about leaving."
Trump, before his speech, was asked by reporters whether he will continue running for the presidency if the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) were to indict him.
"Oh, absolutely, I won’t even think about leaving," Trump said.
Trump indicated that he doesn't think such an indictment would hurt him in any way. In fact, he even suggested that it would help him.
Trump said, "probably it’ll enhance my numbers, but it’s a very bad thing for America. It’s very bad for the country."
Trump, here, is likely referring to the fact that, every time the political left has launched an attack on him - from the now-debunked Trump-Russia collusion narrative to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol "insurrection" narrative - Trump's support, seemingly, has only been strengthened. Trump clearly believes that the same would happen following any DOJ indictment.
"This animal prosecutor . . ."
Trump is facing what appears to be a rather open-ended investigation that is being led by the DOJ.
At the very least, federal investigators are looking at two things. First, is Trump's alleged role in the Capitol protest of Jan. 6, 2021. Second, is Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Attorney Merrick Garland has appointed Jack Smith - a special counsel - to oversee these investigations. And, some believe that Smith's recent moves - including asking individuals close to Trump to speak before a federal grand jury - suggest that he is moving toward indicting Trump.
Trump, on Sunday, once again, made his view of Smith and Smith's investigation very clear. On his social media site, Truth Social, Trump wrote:
This Animal Prosecutor that they stuck on me over the Boxes Hoax is trying to TORTURE my people into telling lies. It’s all for political reasons, and the fact that I’m leading, big, in all of the polls. He’s flying people from all over and throwing them in front of a D.C. Grand Jury. They are confused and scared - they’ve never done this before. These Democrat Marxist pigs should be the ones that are investigated. The nice guy prosecutor in the Biden documents case hasn’t even started yet!
Victory at CPAC
CPAC's straw poll, over the weekend, indicated that Trump is as popular as ever among Republicans.
Trump won the hypothetical 2024 Republican presidential primary vote by a whopping 42 percentage points over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R): 62% to 20%.
Clearly, the federal investigation doesn't appear to be hurting Trump's 2024 chances - at least not with regard to Trump's Republican support.