Christmas Eve was named Dr Anthony S Fauci day in Washington DC to commemorate the White House immunologist's 80th birthday
America’s top Covid doctor – whose popularity is said to anger Donald Trump – has had a day named in his honor to celebrate his 80th birthday. Washington DC officially named December 24 ‘Dr Anthony Fauci Day’ to mark the famed immunologist’s 80th birthday.
The honor was bestowed by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser – a long-time foe of President Trump’s. Announcing the special day, Mayor Bowser said: ‘In honor of Dr Fauci’s 80th birthday today, I proclaim Thursday December 24 2020 “Dr Anthony S Fauci Day” in Washington DC.
‘Happy Dr Fauci Day, DC. We are incredibly proud to count him among the many DC residents who are sacrificing so much to keep our communities healthy and safe.’
While Fauci is famed for his gravely Brooklyn accent, he has long called Washington DC home, and has been director of the city’s National Institutes for Health since 1984.
Fauci has advised every US President since Ronald Reagan’s term in office between 1981 and 1989, and was previously hailed for his efforts at tackling the Aids crisis.
But his role has become heavily politicized under President Trump, who has repeatedly undermined Fauci’s advice and guidance in public, and even made personal digs at the doctor.
Fauci has become the face of the Covid pandemic for many Americans, and has been praised for his matter-of-fact briefings, which have urged people to take extreme caution, while also offering some hope.
President Trump – who lost last month’s election to Joe Biden – is said to be jealous of Fauci’s growing popularity, which culminated with Brad Pitt portraying the immunologist on a Saturday Night Live sketch in April.
Fauci received his first injection of Moderna’s new Covid vaccine on Monday, and will continue briefing the US on Covid after Trump leaves office next month.
He has accepted President-elect Biden’s offer to become Chief Medical Advisor to the President.
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