Kristi Noem criticizes 'political' Fauci over disapproval of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Kristi Noem criticizes ‘political’ Fauci over disapproval of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Gov. Kristi Noem criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci for disapproval of the annual 10-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally held in South Dakota over concerns it could spread COVID-19.

The South Dakota governor argued on Thursday that Fauci, President Joe Biden‘s chief medical adviser, is playing politics by ignoring other large events happening throughout the country, such as former President Barack Obama‘s birthday party or various music concerts.

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“Dr. Fauci has become political, and I think it’s unfortunate because there’s going to be a point in time again when we’re really going to need our public health officials and know we can trust them,” Noem said on Fox News on Thursday. “And he has discredited his entire profession by the positions he has taken during this pandemic.”

Earlier this week, Fauci said the event, which has attracted roughly 700,000 people in the Black Hills this year, risks a surge in COVID-19 cases.

“It’s understandable that people want to do the kinds of things they want to do. They want their freedom to do that. But there comes a time when you’re dealing with a public health crisis that could involve you, your family, and everyone else, that something supersedes that need to do exactly what you want to do,” he told NBC on Sunday.

Noem, a Republican and possible 2024 presidential contender, said Fauci “continues to pick on” GOP governors.

She also said he was ignoring the U.S.-Mexico border situation, claiming illegal immigrants are entering the border at an increased rate under Biden’s leadership. Noem said she recently visited the southern border with members of her state’s national guard and recounted Border Patrol telling a local sheriff they had no idea what to do with COVID-19 migrants who had been apprehended.

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“It’s alarming to me that we should be talking about it [the border], and the hypocrisy of how they go after, and how Dr. Fauci goes after, certain individuals and not others,” Noem said. “It’s wrong, and the American people need to wake up.”

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