Trump Ponders Pandemic Popularity of Fauci

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said his relationship with Dr. Anthony Fauci is "very good" but wondered why the doctor's approval rating is so high while his is so low.

Speaking a day after he retweeted a message claiming Fauci had misled the public, Trump chalked up his own sinking numbers to his personality.

But he said Fauci's broad respect should transfer to the Trump administration -- for whom Fauci works.

"I get along with him very well and I buy with a lot of what he's said," Trump insisted.

"It's interesting: he's got a very good approval rating. And I like that, it's good," he went on. "Because remember: he's working for this administration. He's working with us.

We could have gotten other people. We could have gotten somebody else. It didn't have to be Dr. Fauci. He's working with our administration. And for the most part, we've done what he and others -- and Dr. Birx and others -- have recommended."

Trump continued: "And he's got this high approval rating. So why don't I have a high approval rating with respect -- and the administration -- with respect to the virus? We should have it very high."