U.S. President Joe Biden broke his usual seriousness with a joke directed at his chief advisor on infectious diseases, Anthony Fauci, during a live speech. Biden laughed and said, "I see Dr. Anthony Fauci more than I see my wife." He added, "Fauci and I joke with each other, (I asked him) who is the president?" He continued, "But aside from the joke, I mean it sincerely."
Biden was discussing his winter plan to combat COVID-19, caused by the coronavirus, amid growing concerns over the new variant "Omicron." In the speech given at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, he mentioned that there are new rules regarding international travel, though they are less strict than expected. The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. will impose COVID-19 testing requirements on travelers coming into the country starting next Monday.
For some in the U.S., Biden's remarks were not a joke. Republican Representative from Ohio, Jim Jordan, stated, "Fauci as president is not a joke; it's a nightmare." He added that Fauci is someone not elected by the American people yet holds significant authority.
