US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has described White House efforts to discredit him as “bizarre” and a “major mistake”.

His words came after the Trump administration published a list of statements Dr Fauci made in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic – statements which later turned out to be wrong as experts learned more about the disease.

Dr Fauci told The Atlantic magazine: “You know, it is a bit bizarre. I don’t really fully understand it.

“I think if you talk to reasonable people in the White House they realise that was a major mistake on their part because it doesn’t do anything but reflect poorly on them, and I don’t think that was their intention.

“I cannot figure out in my wildest dreams why they would want to do that.”

US President Donald Trump said this week that he values Dr Fauci’s contribution but does not always agree with him.

Coronavirus has infected more than three million people in the US, killing more than 136,000.

Mr Trump has turned the blame on health institutions and experts, among others, frustrated by their advice as it often threatens his focus on reopening the economy.

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