Trump ally Rep. Jim Jordan clashed with Dr. Anthony Fauci Friday, when the Ohio Republican asked if protests should be limited over COVID-19 concerns.
“Great job by Jim Jordan, and also some very good statements by Tony Fauci. Big progress being made!” Trump tweeted aboard Air Force One as he traveled to Tampa, Florida, for talks on the coronavirus response and hurricane preparedness.
Trump later retweeted a post from Jordan protesting the fact that people are discouraged to go church, work and school – issues on which he badgered Fauci during the hearing before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.
Fauci, often the subject of criticism from Trump and other Republicans, said people should avoid crowds – and children be kept away from them – in order to prevent the spread of the virus that has killed more than 150,000 Americans.
At one point, Rep. Jim Jordan asked Dr. Fauci about the safety of mass protests against racism and police misconduct, and whether the government should limit or even ban those kinds of gatherings. Fauci did not bite. https://t.co/GMKkbXIluw
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) July 31, 2020
At one point in the hearing, Rep. Jim Jordan told Dr. Fauci: "I haven’t seen people during a church service go out and harm police officers or burn buildings … No limit to protests, but you can’t go to church on Sunday.”https://t.co/GMKkbXqK5W
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) July 31, 2020