Despite spearheading the U.S. fight against COVID-19, the country's top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci has been sidelined by the White House, reported several U.S. news outlets.

The Trump administration has prepared a list of comments made by Dr. Fauci about the virus to ascertain the number of times he made wrong remarks.

The list includes remark made in January, claiming the virus was not a significant threat to the U.S. people and was not driven by asymptomatic carriers, as well as an observation made in March, which suggested there was no need for face coverings.

But Fauci explained that he didn't suggest masks early in the outbreak, because he wanted to reserve them for frontline health care workers who needed them most, especially considering the mask shortage.

At the same time, scientists agree that for a brand new virus never ever seen in human history, it's reasonable that their knowledge could change based on further information and experience, and so do the corresponding recommendations.

A senior White House official on condition of anonymity told the Washington Post that Dr. Fauci "no longer briefs Trump and is never in the Oval (Office) anymore." At the same time, the expert himself declined to comment on the issue. 

In an interview with the Financial Times, Fauci revealed that he had not met the president in person since June 2 and had not briefed him in more than two months.

Trump and scientists

Since COVID-19 broke out in the U.S., the Trump administration has always been at loggerheads with scientists over the country's coronavirus containment policies.

The latest round of differences emerged with the announcement related to the reopening of schools in the country. The public health experts warn that a one-size-fits-all reopening strategy could drive infection and death rates even higher.

Although U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos backed up the president on Fox News Sunday, noting that there's nothing in the data suggests that kids being in school are dangerous, the majority of experts are still concerned about the uncertainties and variables for kids after sending them back to school.

A Harvard health expert expressed his concerns over Trump's aggressive school reopening move via an interview with CNN last week. He noted relevant study has already shown the virus could lead to a wave of brain damage among infected cases. 

Nobody would want to see policy is enacted at the expense of the country's future, he added.