Washington (AFP)

Coordinator of the fight against the coronavirus and respected figure in the United States, Doctor Anthony Fauci has always made sure to stay away from politics.

But, with the Covid-19 become the main battleground for the two candidates for the White House, here is the doctor propelled against his will into the electoral arena.

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the American left has cherished him, the right has criticized him, but Donald Trump knows the popular immunologist.

So his campaign team used words from the infectious disease expert to make believe that he praised the management of the crisis by the US president, a few weeks before the November 3 election.

It did not take less for Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate, to ensure that he president, he would listen to Anthony Fauci.

"It's frustrating for him to see himself politicized when he spent (...) 40 years trying to avoid playing politics," Zeke Emanuel, chairman of the Department of Medical Ethics, told AFP and University of Pennsylvania Health Policy.

Why are the two camps seeking the support of the director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases?

"Integrity and credibility is that simple," explains Mr. Emanuel.

"The man is honest, he says what he knows about science and therefore he is credible", guarantees the academic.

Since the appearance of the new coronavirus, Anthony Fauci, 79, famous in the world of infectious diseases and the fight against AIDS before the pandemic, has constantly reminded us of the dangerousness of the virus without ever criticizing head-on Donald Trump who has continued to minimize the threat, even after contracting Covid-19.

- "Out of context" -

In Donald Trump's campaign clip, the narrator claims that "President Trump tackled the virus head-on, as any leader should do" before an excerpt from an Anthony Fauci interview is played.

"I can't imagine that (...) anyone could do more," said the doctor.

An excerpt which suggests that he praises the action of President Trump.

But this campaign clip got the doctor off the hook.

"The statements attributed to me without my permission by the Republican Party campaign team were taken out of context from a comment I made several months ago regarding the efforts of federal health authorities," explained the immunologist.

And Mr. Fauci to recall his neutrality: "In nearly five decades of public service, I have never publicly supported any political candidate."

On CNN, Dr Fauci said he believed the clip should be taken down.

But Republicans stand by their side of the story.

"The words spoken are correct and come directly from the mouth of Dr. Fauci," defended Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign team.

- "Last effort" -

Anthony Fauci has at times spoken well of the response of US authorities to the pandemic, and of Mr. Trump's handling.

But he has alerted recently to an upsurge in Covid-19 cases when Donald Trump congratulated himself on the work done.

On the Democratic side, Mr. Fauci is also part of the political strategy.

Kamala Harris, Joe Biden's running mate, recently claimed she would get the shot if Anthony Fauci advised it, not if Donald Trump recommended it.

After the Trump campaign clip aired, Joe Biden jumped at the chance to criticize his Republican opponent.

"Here's something I would do very differently if I were president: I would really listen to Dr Fauci's advice and expertise, I wouldn't attack him for telling the truth," the Democrat tweeted.

This streak should not have any tangible effects on the election, as most voters have already made their choice.

However, it could put the president in difficulty with the undecided.

"It reinforces the idea that Trump is only interested in himself and his electoral destiny, not the country in general, as a leader should be," Tance Todd Belt, professor of political science at George Washington University.

© 2020 AFP