Donald Trump has said a warning by the United States’s top infectious diseases expert about lifting lockdown restrictions too quickly was “not acceptable”.
The president accused Dr Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading disease expert, of wanting "to play all sides of the equation" over the Covid-19 epidemic in the country.
Mr Trump, speaking at the White House on Wednesday, also said he was dissatisfied with Dr Fauci's caution about reopening schools too soon.
Coronavirus has infected nearly 1.4 million people in the US. It has killed more than 84,000.
Mr Trump took issue with Dr Fauci's comments to a Senate hearing about the risks to children of reopening schools.
"Look, he wants to play all sides of the equation," Mr Trump said.
"I was surprised by his answer actually, because, you know, it's just to me - it's not an acceptable answer, especially when it comes to schools."
He said "the only thing that would be acceptable" would be giving older teachers and professors a few more weeks before they return.
"this is a disease that attacks age and it attacks health.”
