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While Americans were wiping down groceries, homeschooling kids, closing businesses, canceling funerals, and wondering whether standing six feet apart from grandma was enough to survive the apocalypse, Dr. Anthony Fauci apparently had another pressing concern.
His fan mail.
Newly released private diary entries, published ahead of Fauci's Senate testimony after being subpoenaed by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), paint the portrait of a man who seemed just as fascinated by his exploding celebrity status as by the virus consuming the world.
Instead of reading like the journal of a wartime physician carrying the weight of a global pandemic, the entries tend to resemble the diary of an aspiring influencer who suddenly found himself trending.
"Press still hot and heavy about me," Fauci wrote on April 7, 2020. "Multiple stories per day directly or indirectly involving me."
What a dork.
At the time, thousands of Americans had already died, hospitals were scrambling for supplies, and families were saying goodbye to loved ones over FaceTime. Fauci, meanwhile, appeared to be tracking media mentions like they were stock prices. [Dud I mention he's a dork?]
By May, the self appreciation had only intensified.
"Big front page article abut me appeared in the Washington Post. Very flattering. The situation with my national and international fame is explosive and really unimaginable. It is not hyperbole to say that today I am the most famous and talked about person in the country and one of the most recognizable person in the world," Fauci wrote as he looked in his full-body mirror.
Not content to stop there, he added, "Countless profiles on me in multiple media. I cannot even read all the things that are written about me since I am so busy … seriously. POTUS seems to be enamored of me even though I am taking the spotlight away from him. We are developing a very unique and interesting relationship."
So, while the globe is suffering from a raging pandemic, our humble servant is depicting himself as one of the most recognizable people on Earth.
At the time, thousands of Americans had already died, hospitals were scrambling for supplies, and families were saying goodbye to loved ones over FaceTime. Fauci, meanwhile, appeared to be tracking media mentions like they were stock prices. [Dud I mention he's a dork?]
By May, the self appreciation had only intensified.
"Big front page article abut me appeared in the Washington Post. Very flattering. The situation with my national and international fame is explosive and really unimaginable. It is not hyperbole to say that today I am the most famous and talked about person in the country and one of the most recognizable person in the world," Fauci wrote as he looked in his full-body mirror.
Not content to stop there, he added, "Countless profiles on me in multiple media. I cannot even read all the things that are written about me since I am so busy … seriously. POTUS seems to be enamored of me even though I am taking the spotlight away from him. We are developing a very unique and interesting relationship."
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| Look at me--I'm Mister Cool |
So, while the globe is suffering from a raging pandemic, our humble servant is depicting himself as one of the most recognizable people on Earth.
The diaries also suggest Fauci viewed television appearances less as an opportunity to inform the public than as oxygen.
After complaining that White House officials were limiting his media access, he proudly recorded a conversation with then Vice President Mike Pence.
"I told him that I am being blocked from TV and I needed to get on TV to give the 'risk reduction' message and that I would avoid being pitted against him or the POTUS merely by not playing that game," Fauci wrote. "He did promise that he would get me out there on TV since he really liked my message. First time anyone ever spoke that way to VP. He truly likes me a lot (and vice versa)."
After complaining that White House officials were limiting his media access, he proudly recorded a conversation with then Vice President Mike Pence.
"I told him that I am being blocked from TV and I needed to get on TV to give the 'risk reduction' message and that I would avoid being pitted against him or the POTUS merely by not playing that game," Fauci wrote. "He did promise that he would get me out there on TV since he really liked my message. First time anyone ever spoke that way to VP. He truly likes me a lot (and vice versa)."
Dork.
Apparently, flattening the curve was important. Keeping Fauci off cable news was the real emergency. The people needed him; the world needs him.
At another point, Fauci admitted privately that the administration's contact tracing strategy was a "f*cking disaster and an abject failure."
Then, almost seamlessly, he noted he had been invited to appear on "Dancing With The Stars."
It's obvious that when the nation's pandemic response is collapsing, your next thought is ballroom choreography.
The celebrity obsession did not end with television.
The diaries feature a cast list worthy of the Oscars. Julia Roberts hosted him on Instagram Live, sent him flowers, and presented him with an award. Vogue editor Anna Wintour, comedian Trevor Noah, NBA star Steph Curry, actors Sean Penn and Matt Damon, rapper Lil Wayne, billionaire Larry Ellison, and numerous media personalities all wandered through Fauci's journal.
CNN's Jake Tapper appears repeatedly through calls, dinners, and text messages. Dana Bash congratulated Fauci after his exchange with Rep. Jim Jordan, even telling him that Wolf Blitzer joked nobody would have blamed him if he had told Jordan to "go f--k yourself."
When journalist Peter Nicholas suggested Fauci had been "humiliated" over a canceled CNN appearance, Fauci's diary recorded his response in two concise words.
"F--- you, Peter."
Apparently, social distancing did not apply to grudges [nor to certain state governors].
The journals also reveal Fauci becoming increasingly irritated with White House officials who threatened to reduce his television appearances. Mark Meadows allegedly argued with him over messaging, while Fauci praised communications director Alyssa Farah for helping restore his media bookings. He described Michael Caputo as "a con man who is completely full of sh-t."
His relationship with President Trump, however, began warmly. Fauci recalled Trump calling him "the smartest person in the world," telling him, "We are counting on you," and appearing "enamored" with him before the relationship later deteriorated after more information came forward.
Perhaps the most unintentionally revealing entries involve Fauci marveling that Secret Service agents no longer bothered checking his credentials because they recognized him. That made him a bit moist.
"Everyone is worried about my health and welfare, probably because it is all over the place that I am almost 80 years old," he wrote.
Apparently, flattening the curve was important. Keeping Fauci off cable news was the real emergency. The people needed him; the world needs him.
At another point, Fauci admitted privately that the administration's contact tracing strategy was a "f*cking disaster and an abject failure."
Then, almost seamlessly, he noted he had been invited to appear on "Dancing With The Stars."
It's obvious that when the nation's pandemic response is collapsing, your next thought is ballroom choreography.
The celebrity obsession did not end with television.
The diaries feature a cast list worthy of the Oscars. Julia Roberts hosted him on Instagram Live, sent him flowers, and presented him with an award. Vogue editor Anna Wintour, comedian Trevor Noah, NBA star Steph Curry, actors Sean Penn and Matt Damon, rapper Lil Wayne, billionaire Larry Ellison, and numerous media personalities all wandered through Fauci's journal.
CNN's Jake Tapper appears repeatedly through calls, dinners, and text messages. Dana Bash congratulated Fauci after his exchange with Rep. Jim Jordan, even telling him that Wolf Blitzer joked nobody would have blamed him if he had told Jordan to "go f--k yourself."
When journalist Peter Nicholas suggested Fauci had been "humiliated" over a canceled CNN appearance, Fauci's diary recorded his response in two concise words.
"F--- you, Peter."
Apparently, social distancing did not apply to grudges [nor to certain state governors].
The journals also reveal Fauci becoming increasingly irritated with White House officials who threatened to reduce his television appearances. Mark Meadows allegedly argued with him over messaging, while Fauci praised communications director Alyssa Farah for helping restore his media bookings. He described Michael Caputo as "a con man who is completely full of sh-t."
His relationship with President Trump, however, began warmly. Fauci recalled Trump calling him "the smartest person in the world," telling him, "We are counting on you," and appearing "enamored" with him before the relationship later deteriorated after more information came forward.
Perhaps the most unintentionally revealing entries involve Fauci marveling that Secret Service agents no longer bothered checking his credentials because they recognized him. That made him a bit moist.
"Everyone is worried about my health and welfare, probably because it is all over the place that I am almost 80 years old," he wrote.
Some people measure success by lives saved; Fauci measured it by the number of his tv appearances and whether security waves them through the front gate by recognizing him.
The diaries conclude with yet another celebrity cameo. At the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors, Fauci hugged Hunter Biden, who joked the internet "would explode" if someone photographed them together because they were both "being attacked by the far right GOP."
One almost expects the next page to include an acceptance speech thanking his agent, his stylist, and everyone who made his rise from bureaucrat to pandemic superstar possible.
Rand Paul argues the journals reveal a public official more concerned with his personal brand than the crisis facing the country. After months of negotiations broke down, Paul subpoenaed Fauci to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
"He’s been slow-walking information to us for six months or more," Paul said. "We’ve been negotiating over the date for several months. He agreed, then he said he wouldn’t. So, I think it’s time that we bring him in."
The American people spent the pandemic wondering whether the science was settled.
The diary suggests at least one thing certainly was.
Anthony Fauci never missed an opportunity to check whether the spotlight was still shining on Anthony Fauci.
What a dork!
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