Navarro says he has no regrets for Fauci op-ed

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told Fox News he has no regrets about his recent USA Today op-ed criticizing Anthony Fauci, saying the only thing he regrets “is Dr. Fauci’s pitch at Opening Day” last week. 

“Peter, do you regret writing the editorial criticizing Dr. Fauci?” co-host Brian Kilmeade asked Navarro on “Fox & Friends.” 

“No. You know, the only thing I regret is Dr. Fauci’s pitch the other day at Opening Day. I felt bad for him,” Navarro responded. 

“But I always look forward and we are all part of the team and he actually tells people to wear the mask and my job is to get them made,” Navarro added. 

Fauci threw out the first pitch before the Yankees-Nationals game in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, the first game of baseball’s season. His pitch didn’t make the plate. 

Navarro’s scathing op-ed dominated headlines on July 14. It came as White House officials appeared to be going after Fauci publicly, though the White House quickly distanced itself and President Trump from the Navarro op-ed.

“What would you like to say to him?” co-host Steve Doocy later asked Naravor, referring to Fauci.

“Let’s fight this China virus and beat it together with the president,” Navarro responded after sharing that he hasn’t spoken to the nation’s top doctor since the op-ed was published earlier this month. 

President Trump told reporters on July 15 that Navarro shouldn’t have penned the op-ed. Navarro wrote in the piece: “When you ask me whether I listen to Dr. Fauci’s advice, my answer is: only with skepticism and caution.”  

“Well, he made a statement representing himself. He shouldn’t be doing that,” the president said of the Navarro op-ed. “We’re all on the same team, including Dr. Fauci,” he added.   

Fauci responded by saying he was focusing on COVID-19 and would avoid getting into a public back-and-forth with any administration officials over the virus.  

“I think the problem is too important for me to get into those kinds of thoughts and discussions. I just want to do my job. I’m really good at it. I think I can contribute. And I’m going to keep doing it,” Fauci told The Atlantic.