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China, the Obama administration, the World Health Organization (WHO), and now Dr. Anthony Fauci, America's leading infectious diseases expert: the "Who is responsible for the coronavirus" list drafted by the Trump administration has got a new name. 

U.S. President Donald Trump has a history of contradicting his expert's advice. In recent weeks, he has ramped up his criticism towards Fauci by claiming he has "made a lot of mistakes" in a Fox interview. When confronted by Fauci's remarks that the country is still "knee-deep in the first wave" last week, Trump's reply was, "I disagree with him."

Obviously, his aides have learned to take a hint. 

In a scathing op-ed published by USA Today newspaper, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro lashed out against Fauci's role in combating the pandemic. He claimed that Fauci "has a good bedside manner with the public, but he has been wrong about everything I have interacted with him on."

A list that of Fauci's past comments regarding the pandemic was also being circulated in the White House, including him saying that the coronavirus was "not major threat" and his advice against wearing masks. The list resembles the "oppo research", which is usually conducted by political candidates to discredit their opponents. 

Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff for communications, also one of Trump's closest allies, has shared a cartoon mocking Fauci with warnings such as "Indefinite lockdown!" to drain the country's economy. 

In an interview with The Atlantic, Fauci said that he found White House's recent attacks on him "bizarre." However, efforts to marginalize Fauci should come as little surprise to observers, as the act is one of the major tricks that the Trump administration would like to use in the face of any domestic crisis: scapegoating and shirking responsibilities. 

America now has over 3 million COVID-19 cases and 13,000 deaths. And the outbreak is showing no sign of easing. According to a recent ABC poll, 67 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump's coronavirus response. With the election approaching soon, someone else has to take the heat. 

Outside, there's China, who happens to be where the outbreak has started and is also the traditional scapegoat of America's domestic problems like unemployment and economic slowdown; there's also WHO, which also fits Trump's anti-establishment narrative. On a domestic level, Fauci is an easy target. 

As a world-renowned infectious disease expert who has been serving the U.S. government for more than 50 years, he enjoys high public popularity and international reputation. It is most unlikely for Trump to tolerate an official who often has a different message across the media than the President, especially when the President is saying that he is "doing a great job." 

Fauci's warnings are especially unpopular when Trump is planning to "open up America again," which was regarded as a key part of his re-election strategy. On many occasions, Fauci has implied that he would not like to be seen as a political person while serving his role as a scientist. But when it comes to the White House, to be apolitical is a mission impossible. Whenever popularity and votes are concerned, evidence and scientific conclusion stop being neutral. 

To be on the opposing side of experts has been one of Trump's signature move. He has capitalized on the public's dislike towards the "patronizing" experts, especially if their advice is to shut everything down and inevitably sacrifice their personal freedom. 

The trick was especially useful in 2016 when Trump's rebellion was supported by many who had been sick of the country's political correctness. He called climate change a "hoax" and refused to believe the possible consequences of global warming. 

The problem is, while the effects of climate change may be less pressing. The consequence of mismanaging a deadly virus is deadly. Worldwide, countries that have respected science and humbled by the virus have all seen progress to beat the pandemic. To blame Fauci, or anyone else for that matter is only exposing how the Trump administration has been refraining from taking responsibility for their disastrous coronavirus response. 

Scriptwriter: Zhao Yuanzhen 

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