Nobody likes me! It’s ‘my personality’ says Trump
SELF-PITYING Donald Trump yesterday complained “nobody likes me” – and blamed his personality.
The President made the remarks as he lamented his approval ratings were lower than his government’s top two medical experts.
And his outburst came as he again defended the use of an anti-malarial drug to ward off coronavirus – contradicting his own public health officials.
Mr Trump appeared particularly irked that Dr Anthony Fauci, America’s top immunologist handling Covid-19, was hugely popular by comparison.
Dr Fauci is director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases and has become a trusted public voice on the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Trump was tackled about his views on the doctor after he retweeted a message on Monday night claiming the expert had misled the public by saying the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine is ineffective against Covid-19.
There is no evidence the drug can fight the virus, and regulators warn it may cause heart problems. The President boasted he has a “very good” relationship with Dr Fauci and said his high approval rating was because he was part of his administration.
“I get along with him very well, and I agree with a lot of what he’s said,” the US leader said.
“It’s interesting. He’s got a very good approval rating. And I like that, it’s good. Because remember, he’s working for this administration. And for the most part, we’ve done what he and others – and [coronavirus coordinator] Dr Deborah Birx and others – have recommended.”
Mr Trump’s bizarre outburst came amid continuing criticism over his handling of the pandemic, which has infected more than 4.3 million in the US and killed more than 149,000.
He said: “And he’s got this high approval rating. So why don’t I have a high approval rating – and the administration – with respect to the virus? We should have it very high. So it sort of is curious. A man works for us, with us, very closely. Dr Fauci and Dr Birx, also very highly thought of, and yet, they’re highly thought of, but nobody likes me? It can only be my personality, that’s all.”
Mr Trump was talking about Dr Fauci hours after supporters of the President claimed the infectious disease expert was a fraud.
Yesterday, Mr Trump continued to be criticised for twice retweeting a video by the controversial Dr Stella Immanuel, who claimed hydroxychloroquine is a cure for coronavirus.
In the video she attacked “fake doctors’” who doubt the efficacy of the drug, and added: “You don’t need a mask.”
It has since been removed by Facebook and Twitter, which called it misinformation.
Immanuel runs the Fire Power Ministries in a shopping mall next door to her clinic in Texas.