President Donald Trump says people are tired of hearing from Dr. Anthony Fauci ``and all these idiots'' about the coronavirus.

Trump has made no secret of his growing impatience with Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert.

Speaking Monday to campaign staffers, Trump called Fauci a ``disaster'' but said he'd create bigger issues for himself if he fired the doctor.

Fauci is head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and is a member of the White House coronavirus task force.

Trump has needled Fauci over his advice on wearing face masks. Nearly 220,000 Americans have died from the disease the virus causes.

Dr. Fauci says, Trump administration has in fact tried to muzzle him from speaking about COVID-19

The top infectious disease specialist in the US says the Trump administration has in fact tried to muzzle him from speaking about the COVID-19 pandemic, despite White House denials to the contrary.

In an interview with ``60 Minutes,'' Doctor Anthony Fauci (FOW'-chee) says he has been repeatedly prevented from appearing on television to inform the public about the health crisis.