Senate Release of Anthony Fauci’s COVID-19 Diaries Reveals Internal White House Friction

Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul has released personal diary entries from Dr. Anthony Fauci documenting his private interactions with political leaders, media figures, and celebrities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shift in Relationship with President Donald Trump

According to the diary entries released by Senator Paul, Fauci initially maintained a warm working relationship with President Donald Trump. Fauci wrote that Trump frequently directed questions to him during White House meetings and referred to him as “the smartest person in the world.” The entries describe Trump telling Fauci, “We are counting on you,” and suggest the President was “enamored” with Fauci as his public profile increased during the early stages of the pandemic.

Internal White House Conflicts and Media Access

The diaries document a deteriorating relationship between Fauci and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Fauci recorded that Meadows threatened to restrict his television appearances and pressured him to soften his public health messaging. In one specific entry, Fauci recounted an instance where Meadows was “screaming” over his public comments.

Fauci identified other administration officials as either allies or adversaries in these media battles:

• Alyssa Farah: The then-White House communications director is described as an ally. Fauci noted a May 2020 entry where Farah admitted that staff had been “holding [him] back” and promised to resume clearing his television requests.
• Michael Caputo: In a July 2, 2020, entry, Fauci described the then-HHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs as “a con man who is completely full of sh–,” alleging that Caputo privately blocked his media appearances while claiming public support for them.

Interactions with Media and Political Figures

Fauci’s entries document phone calls, text exchanges, and dinners at the Tappers’ home in Washington. The diaries show Tapper privately checking if CNN interviews had created friction with the White House.

Fauci also recorded interactions following a heated exchange with Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. According to the diaries, CNN’s Dana Bash texted Fauci to call him “a better man” and relayed a joke from anchor Wolf Blitzer, who suggested no one would blame Fauci if he had told Jordan to “go f— yourself.” The following day, Bash reportedly texted Fauci a Vanity Fair headline that mocked Jordan’s performance at the hearing.

Celebrity Connections and Public Profile

The diaries include a list of high-profile figures who interacted with Fauci as he became a central figure in the pandemic response. These include:

• Entertainment and Arts: Actress Julia Roberts, who hosted Fauci on Instagram Live and presented him with an award; Vogue editor Anna Wintour; comedian Trevor Noah; actors Sean Penn and Matt Damon; and rapper Lil Wayne.
• Sports and Business: NBA star Steph Curry and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. Fauci described Ellison as “a bit of a loose cannon” regarding White House efforts to use Oracle technology.

The final entries mention a 2022 Kennedy Center Honors event where Fauci hugged Hunter Biden. Fauci wrote that Biden joked the internet “would explode” if they were photographed together because both were “being attacked by the far right GOP.”

Context of the Release

The release of these diaries by Senator Rand Paul occurs as part of ongoing congressional oversight into the U.S. government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.