Trump annoyed by Fauci, made up his Yankees opening pitch invite: NYT
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U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to address a COVID-19 task force news briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 28, 2020. /Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to address a COVID-19 task force news briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 28, 2020. /Reuters

While the U.S. government's top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci was invited to throw the first pitch of MLB's season, President Donald Trump made up his Yankees opening pitch invite, The New York Times reported on Monday.

In a press briefing at the White House on July 23, Trump told reporters that he would throw the opening pitch at a New York Yankees game on August 15 at Yankee Stadium after he had received an invite. An hour later, Fauci threw the first pitch at the season opening game between the Washington Nationals and the Yankees.

Actually, the baseball team had not invited Trump on that day, a person with knowledge of Trump's schedule told The New York Times.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak in U.S., Trump has been at loggerheads with scientists over the country's coronavirus containment policies. Trump is annoyed about Fauci's high approval ratings during the coronavirus outbreak, as he is one of the most trusted people in government and many Americans listen to his advice diligently on how to protect themselves from infection. Trump, on the other hand, has drawn criticism over his handling of the pandemic, putting him in jeopardy of losing the presidential election.

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 30, 2020. /Reuters

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 30, 2020. /Reuters

The recent spike in coronavirus infections, primarily in states that were among the earliest to lift coronavirus restrictions, put Fauci on a collision course with the White House. Fauci urged caution while the White House urged businesses to reopen as the United States became the epicenter of the global crisis.

The White House had distributed a list of statements Fauci made early in the pandemic that turned out to be wrong as understanding of the disease developed.

The fierce resurgence of COVID-19 cases in early June has dampened early hopes that the country was past the worst of a crisis that has decimated businesses and put millions of Americans out of work. Four U.S. states in the south and west reported one-day records of coronavirus deaths on Tuesday. So far, there have been more than 4.3 million cases in the U.S., with deaths approaching 150,000.

Fauci has been a subject of debate within the White House for months because he is quite frank in saying where he agrees and disagrees with the president.

(With input from agencies)