“My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci,” the Tesla CEO wrote on Twitter, throwing the US’ COVID-19 response under the spotlight, while making light of the use of nonbinary pronouns.
Musk also shared an edited meme showing Fauci telling President Joe Biden, “Just one more lockdown, my king…”.
Coatsworth, one of Australia’s former Deputy Chief Medical Officers and an infectious disease specialist, rushed to the defence of the public health official yesterday.
“It’s reprehensible that Elon Musk is calling for the prosecution of Tony Fauci,” he Tweeted.
“I didn’t agree with some of his views, but no one had a more difficult job during C19. All public officials and public health practitioners on this platform should call this out.”
Coatsworth’s sentiments have been echoed by the White House.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called Musk’s tweet a “personal attack” and said it was “incredibly dangerous.”
“They are disgusting, and they are divorced from reality, and we will continue to call that out and be very clear about that,” Jean-Pierre said.
“We are fortunate that he has devoted his career and his life and his exceptional talent to America’s public health, and that’s what should be discussed right now.
“That’s what we should be thankful to him about, and, again, these are incredibly dangerous and should be called out.
Fauci has served under seven presidents, Republicans and Democrats, but the 81-year-old will step down from his two government-held roles this month.
He currently serves as Biden’s chief medical advisor, as well as director of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); an organisation he has headed since 1984.
Musk’s tweet has drawn support from Far Right figures such as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
Answers to the most commonly Googled questions about COVID-19