Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), privately described President Donald Trump as "out of control," a "true embarrassment," and an "idiot" in his personal diary entries from 2020 as the nation grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The diary entries, spanning from December 2019 to August 2022, were released by Sen. Rand Paul, a vocal critic of Fauci, ahead of the scientist's scheduled appearance before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on July 29. Fauci's writings reveal his frustration with Trump's approach to the pandemic, accusing the then-president of not taking scientific advice seriously in a push to reopen the country for political reasons before the 2020 election.
"Trump getting out of control in pushing to open up the country and get the economy back before election day," Fauci wrote on May 22, 2020. "He is desparate. This is all about re-election." Later, on Oct. 15, 2020, less than three weeks before the election, Fauci penned: "As the election nears, the cases increase and surges are inevitable as we enter cooler weather. Trump is on the campaign trail spewing nonsense. He is really out of control. A true embarrassment."
The relationship between Fauci and Trump, initially characterized by Trump embracing Fauci at White House press briefings, soured as the pandemic progressed. Trump began publicly questioning Fauci's credibility in the weeks leading up to the 2020 election.
Fauci noted Trump's contradictory behavior in a July 28, 2020, entry: "The POTUS is playing a weird game of acting Okay with me in person and saying that our relationship is fine to the press and then retweeting stuff that attacks me. He is a very strange guy."
A significant point of contention was Trump's reaction to public health messaging from Fauci and Deborah Birx, the White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator. On August 8, 2020, Fauci wrote, "POTUS acting even more erratically. Keeps insisting that increased case numbers are due only to increased testing, ignoring the increases in percent positive, hospitalizations and deaths (>1000/day). Inconsistent message to me whether they want me on TV." He also recounted asking White House communications aide Alyssa Farah about his standing, only to be told he was wanted on TV daily, while Trump simultaneously expressed frustration and suggested Fauci or Birx should not appear.
Fauci also detailed a call with Trump on September 13, 2020, where the president "started a diatribe" about an MSNBC interview Fauci had given. Trump questioned why Fauci's message was perceived as negative after a seemingly positive interview with Fox News' John Roberts. Fauci attempted to explain the public health risks associated with upticks in cases in certain states and the need for intensified public health measures, but he concluded the call, though friendly, made it clear Trump did not want him to conduct such interviews anymore.
In response to the diary's revelations on July 28, Trump told Fox News that Fauci "wanted to close everything down, and I didn't." He added, "Had I taken his advice, the whole country would have been closed down." Trump also stated he "was not a believer" in Fauci and accused the former NIAID director of changing his advice on face masks, noting, "I lost a lot of respect for him during the period of time, but I inherited him. He's been there since the 1980s."
Fauci, who continued as NIAID director under President Biden and resigned at the end of 2022, also documented his own rising celebrity status during the pandemic. He noted the extensive media coverage, writing on April 7, 2020, "Press still hot and heavy about me." A May 21, 2020, entry described a "Big front page article abut me appeared in the Washington Post. Very flattering." He reflected on his fame, stating, "The situation with my national and international fame is explosive and really unimaginable. It is not hyoperbole to say that today I am the most famous and talked about person in the country and one of the most recognizable peson in the world." He also observed that Trump "seems to be enamored of me even though I am taking the spotlight away from him," adding of their relationship, "We are developing a very unique and interesting relationship."
Fauci's criticism extended beyond pandemic management to Trump's performance in the first presidential debate against Democratic nominee Joe Biden on September 29, 2020. He described the event as a "Horrible 's–t show'" and wrote, "Trump was embarrassing, continually interrupting Biden, bullying all the way, making no sense, lying." Fauci also criticized Trump for refusing to denounce White Supremacists, telling the Proud Boys to "Stand down, stand by," and for misrepresenting Fauci's stance on masks and claiming Fauci praised his China travel ban.
Fauci further expressed dismay over Trump's engagement with QAnon theories, writing in an entry after the debate, "QAnon is saying that all the other deaths had nothing to do with COVID-19. The POTUS loves this and is tweeting that Fauci and Birx shut down the country for only 9000 deaths. What an idiot!!"
In a June 6, 2021, entry, months after Trump's election loss, Fauci lamented the "vicious assault" from the political right, specifically mentioning House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy calling for his dismissal. Fauci characterized McCarthy and the "extreme right wing republican group" as having "completely sold their soul to the infinitely lying ex president trump."
Fauci's diary entries also reveal his personal reflections on his own public profile during the pandemic. He noted, "Countless profiles on me in multiple media. I cannot even read all the things that are written abuyt me since I amso busy….seriously. POTUS seems to be enamored of me even though I am taking the spotlight away from him."
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