Why Meghan McCain's Comments About Dr. Fauci Are Raising Eyebrows

In light of the country's current vaccine situation, Meghan McCain took to The View on Feb. 22, 2021 to comment on the issues, in which she seriously dissed White House chief medical advisor Dr. Fauci (via The Daily Beast). Although, as John McCain's daughter, Meghan is known for her conservative stance on most issues, her comments on the respected physician-scientist remained shocking to the audience.

Meghan started out her rant by expressing her distress for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, showing viewers a clip of Dr. Fauci on CNN's State of the Union. Dr. Fauci appeared ambivalent about giving concrete advice on vaccinated grandparents visiting grandkids, stating, "There will be recommendations coming out. I don't want to be making a recommendation now on public TV." He continued, "I would want to sit down with the team and take a look at that," which made many feel as though the vaccine might not be a one-and-done situation (via The New York Post).

Meghan, who was clearly disappointed at his remarks, began to complain about the government's handling of the vaccines, particularly under Dr. Fauci's direction. McCain quipped, "I was very frustrated when I saw this clip," and followed her thoughts up by explaining how she wasn't trying to "downplay" the virus. 

That being said, she refused to hold back with her next comments on the White House advisor.

Meghan McCain first clarified her actions in response to the pandemic, stating, per The Daily Beast, "Next week it will be a year since we left the studio and I have been very responsible in many different ways as so many Americans have been." She went on, "The fact that Dr. Fauci is going on CNN and he can't tell me that if I get the vaccine, if I'll be able to have dinner with my family – it's terribly inconsistent messaging."

The View panelist further emphasized her point by contrasting the U.S. government's pandemic response to an Israeli billboard that read "Get a shot, take a shot" which is meant to motivate people to get vaccinated so they can bar hop again. 

"The fact that I, Meghan McCain, co-host of The View, don't know when or how I will be able to get a vaccine... I have no idea when and how I get it." She explained. "I want to get it. If you call me at three o'clock in the morning, I will go any place at any time to get it."

Meghan McCain described the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine as "a disaster," but admitted fellow conservative President Trump "can take much of the blame." However, she soon pointed to President Joe Biden's administration and Dr. Fauci, stating she "would like something to look forward to and to hope for" and that their strategy has made it so "a lot of people [are] not getting it" (via The Daily Beast).

The co-host soon turned to the White House's medical advisor, saying, "I'm over Dr. Fauci. I think we need to have more people giving more opinions." 

She continued, shocking the audience, "I think the Biden administration should remove him and put someone in place that does understand science" (The Hill). Even co-host Whoopi Goldberg felt like she had to cut in at that point, noting that individual doses of the vaccine wouldn't automatically end the pandemic.

As the show quickly prepared to cut to commercials, McCain ended her rant with, "I know what I'm saying is controversial, I really do. But I'm not a phony and I'm not going to come on air and say something different than what I'm saying privately."