Fauci accepts Biden's offer to be chief medical adviser

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government's top infectious disease scientist, said Friday that he's accepted Democrat Joe Biden's offer to be his chief medical adviser, if Biden is certified as president. 

Fauci publicly accepted the offer on NBC-TV's "Today" show.

Biden made the request Thursday night on CNN.

Fauci, an immunologist, has served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984.

Fauci is a member of Trump’s White House coronavirus task force but has occasionally disagreed with the president over policy related to the pandemic. Fauci is widely respected, but critics argue that he has occasionally given questionable guidance — often pointing to a statement he made early in the pandemic about not having to wear a mask.

"I asked him to stay on the exact same role he's had for the past several presidents, and I asked him to be a chief medical adviser for me as well, and be part of the Covid team," Biden told CNN.