President Donald Trump urged schools across the nation to reopen as soon as possible even as the coronavirus continues to spread, saying infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Faucis ongoing calls for caution were not an acceptable answer.

He wants to play all sides of the equation, the president said on Wednesday of Fauci, a leading figure on the White Houses coronavirus task force.

I was surprised by his answer, actually, Trump later added, because you know its just to me, its not an acceptable answer, especially when it comes to schools.

Trump was referencing Faucis testimony to the Senate earlier this week, where the doctor warned lawmakers that reopening the country too soon could lead to suffering and death that could be avoided. When Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) pressed Fauci about his resistance to kickstarting the economy, the doctor directly pointed to the unknown effects infections of COVID-19 could have on children.

I think we better be careful, if we are not cavalier, in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects, Fauci told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Youre right in the numbers that children, in general, do much, much better than adults and the elderly and particularly those with underlying conditions. But I am very careful and hopefully humble in knowing that I dont know everything about this disease.

But Trump appeared to reject that concern in remarks to reporters on Wednesday.

I think they should open the schools, absolutely, the president said, according to a pool report from the White House. I think they should. Its had very little impact on young people. And I think that if youre an instructor, if youre a teacher, a professor over a certain age, like lets say 65, or maybe even if you want to be conservative, 60, perhaps you want to stay out for a little while longer.

He continued: Its had very little impact on young people, and I would strongly say they should open. Its up to the governors, its the governors choice, but their state is not open if the schools arent open.