Newly released diary entries written by Dr. Anthony Fauci provide a detailed and personal account of his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing his private opinions about politicians, media figures, celebrities, and White House officials.
The diaries were released by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul ahead of Fauci’s scheduled testimony before the committee following a congressional subpoena.
The entries suggest that Fauci initially enjoyed a positive working relationship with President Donald Trump. According to the diary, Trump frequently sought Fauci’s advice during White House meetings, praised him publicly as “the smartest person in the world,” told him “We are counting on you,” and appeared increasingly impressed as Fauci became a prominent public figure during the pandemic. However, the diaries indicate that this relationship became more complicated as the public health crisis and political tensions intensified.
Fauci’s writings portray a particularly strained relationship with then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. He claimed Meadows repeatedly pressured him to soften his public health messaging, attempted to limit his television appearances, and at one point allegedly shouted at him over his comments to the media. In contrast, Fauci described then-White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah as a supportive ally who acknowledged that officials had been restricting his media access and promised to help restore his television appearances.
The diary also contains harsh criticism of former Health and Human Services communications official Michael Caputo, whom Fauci described in highly negative terms, accusing him of publicly supporting Fauci while privately working to block his media interviews.
Journalists also appear frequently throughout the diary. Fauci documented regular conversations, text messages, and social gatherings with CNN anchor Jake Tapper. He noted that Tapper privately checked on him after interviews to ensure they had not created problems with the White House. Following a canceled CNN interview, Fauci expressed frustration toward a journalist from The Atlantic. He also recorded supportive messages from CNN’s Dana Bash and comments from Wolf Blitzer after his widely publicized exchange with Representative Jim Jordan during a congressional hearing.
Beyond politics and journalism, the diary describes interactions with numerous celebrities and business leaders. Fauci wrote about working with Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, whom he characterized as unpredictable. He also documented appearances with actress Julia Roberts, who interviewed him on Instagram Live, sent him flowers, and later presented him with an award. Other notable figures mentioned include Vogue editor Anna Wintour, comedian Trevor Noah, NBA star Steph Curry, actors Sean Penn and Matt Damon, and rapper Lil Wayne.
The diary concludes with an account of the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors, where Fauci wrote that he greeted Hunter Biden. According to Fauci, Biden joked that a photograph of them together would “break the internet” because both had become frequent targets of criticism from conservative Republicans.
Overall, the diaries offer an unusually candid glimpse into Fauci’s professional relationships, private frustrations, and growing public profile during one of the most consequential public health crises in modern history.
