Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recently released diary entries provide a candid glimpse into his thoughts on politicians, celebrities, and his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Newly released diary entries by Dr. Anthony Fauci offer an unfiltered perspective on the nation’s leading infectious disease expert’s interactions with various politicians, television personalities, and celebrities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The entries, made public by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., chronicle Fauci’s daily activities, including meetings, phone calls, and personal reflections during a tumultuous period in American history.
The release of these diaries comes just days before Fauci is set to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, following a subpoena issued by Paul. The entries feature a wide array of notable figures, from former President Donald Trump to celebrities like Julia Roberts and NBA star Steph Curry, providing an unusually personal look at those who crossed Fauci’s path during the pandemic.
In the early entries, Fauci describes a warm working relationship with Trump. He notes that Trump frequently directed questions to him during White House meetings, referred to him as “the smartest person in the world,” and expressed reliance on Fauci’s expertise. As Fauci’s national profile grew, he observed that Trump appeared increasingly “enamored” with him.
However, Fauci’s relationship with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows took a turn for the worse as the pandemic progressed. Fauci recounts instances where Meadows threatened to limit his television appearances and pressured him to soften his public messaging. In one entry, Fauci describes a confrontation where Meadows was “screaming” over his public comments.
Despite these challenges, Fauci found an ally in then-White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah. He documented a May 2020 entry in which Farah acknowledged that White House staff had been “holding me back,” described the situation as having “gotten out of hand,” and promised to facilitate his television requests moving forward.
Not all members of the administration’s communications team received Fauci’s praise. In a July 2, 2020 entry, he referred to then-HHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Michael Caputo as “a con man who is completely full of sh–,” criticizing Caputo for publicly supporting his media appearances while privately obstructing them.
Television journalists also feature prominently in Fauci’s diary. CNN anchor Jake Tapper appears multiple times, with Fauci detailing their phone calls, text exchanges, and dinners at the Tappers’ Washington home. Fauci noted that Tapper privately checked in to ensure that a CNN interview had not caused any issues with the White House. When The Atlantic’s Peter Nicholas suggested that Fauci had been “humiliated” by a canceled Tapper interview, Fauci responded in his diary with a blunt retort: “F— you, Peter.”
After a heated exchange with Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, Fauci recorded that CNN’s Dana Bash texted him, calling him “a better man” and relaying a joke from fellow CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, who remarked that no one would have blamed Fauci if he had told Jordan to “go f— yourself.” The following day, Fauci noted another text from Bash, pointing him to a Vanity Fair headline that mocked Jordan’s performance during the hearing.
The diary also includes colorful observations about billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, whom Fauci described as “a bit of a loose cannon” while discussing the White House’s efforts to utilize Oracle technology during the pandemic.
Beyond politicians and White House aides, Fauci’s diary reads like a Hollywood guest list. Actress Julia Roberts hosted Fauci on Instagram Live, sent him flowers, and later presented him with an award. Other celebrities, including Vogue editor Anna Wintour, comedian Trevor Noah, actors Sean Penn and Matt Damon, and rapper Lil Wayne, also make appearances as Fauci documented his rising celebrity status during the pandemic.
The diary concludes with an unexpected encounter. At the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors, Fauci wrote about hugging Hunter Biden, who joked that the internet “would explode” if someone photographed them together, given that both were “being attacked by the far right GOP.”
These diary entries provide a unique insight into the pressures and interactions faced by Dr. Fauci during a critical time in public health, highlighting the complex dynamics between science, politics, and celebrity culture, according to Fox News.