Megyn Kelly’s nine-minute interview with former President Donald Trump is making waves for its direct and pointed questioning about Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his relationship with Dr. Anthony Fauci. Trump, who was in office during the beginning months of the pandemic, had a lot to say on the matter.

The Fauci Factor

Megyn Kelly probed former President Donald Trump on his working relationship with Dr. Anthony Fauci. Kelly questioned Trump on why he chose not to fire Fauci, given the doctor’s often divergent opinions and the criticism he faced from many Republicans.

Trump responded by saying he didn’t fire Fauci in part because the doctor had been in his position for a long time, but also because he made him a “star,” making him the face of the White House’s coronavirus response. Trump asserted that Fauci’s role was “much less important to me,” highlighting his own actions that overrode some of Fauci’s recommendations. Specifically, Trump pointed to his decision to halt travel from China, an action he took against Fauci’s advice.

Trump recounted his firing of James Comey and others, drawing a contrast between them and Fauci. “But I was not a big fan of Fauci,” he added.

Operation Warp Speed: A Mixed Legacy

When Kelly brought up the rush for vaccines through Operation Warp Speed, Trump declared, “That was on the vaccines they were rushed through. They have helped, but also hurt a lot of people.” He acknowledged that some people were hurt by the vaccines, yet stopped short of regretting the rapid development and dissemination of the vaccines.

The Hindsight Question

One of the interview’s most poignant moments came when Kelly asked Trump if he’d like a do-over on any of his decisions. Trump’s answer was a mixed bag of acknowledgment and defense. “Nobody knew what the hell it was,” he stated, referring to the virus. He argued that he had acted on the information available at the time, even shutting down travel from China — a decision he credits with saving “hundreds of thousands of lives.”

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