Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Slams Dr. Anthony Fauci: ‘He Doesn’t Know What He’s Talking About’

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said this week that he will stop listening to the top nation’s top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci and said he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Fauci said today that he’s concerned about states like Texas that skipped over certain things,” Patrick said during an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. We haven’t skipped over anything. The only thing I’m skipping over is listening to him.”

Patrick’s comments come in response to Fauci’s testimony before Congress on Tuesday. He said that he is “quite concerned” about the increase of new coronavirus cases in Texas, Florida, California and Arizona. He warned that the coronavirus cases could more than double to up to 100,000 daily new cases if people wouldn’t start following safety precautions and suggested that states “skipping over” some reopening guidelines could be the reason in cases increase.

“I don’t need his advice anymore,” Patrick said. “We’ll listen to a lot of science, we’ll listen to a lot of doctors, and [Gov. Greg Abbott], myself and other state leaders will make the decision. No thank you, Dr. Fauci.”

On the day of Patrick’s interview, Texas had seen a new record high of 7,000 new cases of COVID-19. More than 6,900 people are currently hospitalized in the state, the number risen from just 2,000 since June 11.

Abbott last week ordered to pause the state’s reopening phases and closed bars.

“At this time, it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars,” Abbott said. “The actions in this executive order are essential to our mission to swiftly contain this virus and protect public health.”

He additionally ordered a mandatory statewide mask mandate, as more than 91 counties see new cases increase.