Senator Paul Releases Dr. Fauci’s Journal Entries Ahead of Hearing

Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has disclosed over a thousand pages of journal entries from Dr. Anthony Fauci. This sets up a potentially heated hearing with the former leading infectious disease expert concerning the COVID-19 pandemic’s origins. As head of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Paul issued a subpoena for Fauci’s appearance as part of the committee’s investigation into the coronavirus’s origins.

Senator Paul, a proponent of the theory that the virus possibly leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, has frequently accused Fauci and other officials of misguiding the public and Congress about the outbreak’s source. The journal entries span from December 2019, around the time the U.S. declared a public health emergency, to December 2022, when Fauci retired as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a role he held for nearly 40 years.

Though many scientists argue that the virus likely emerged naturally from infected bats and spread to humans, the FBI has assessed that a “lab incident” in Wuhan is the most probable source. In January 2025, the CIA supported the “lab leak” theory, albeit with low confidence.

Some entries reveal early uncertainties regarding the pandemic’s source. In January 2020, Fauci noted the market was not the source but rather an amplifier, though the virus did jump from animals to humans. A conference call mentioned in his entries indicated that experts believed the coronavirus might not have originated naturally.

On May 26, 2021, Fauci expressed concern over media reports about his “flip-flopping” on the virus origin theory. Initially favoring a natural origin, he later called for a thorough investigation due to growing speculation about a lab leak.

Fauci’s journals also detail his media interactions and encounters with President Trump. Bemused by his sudden fame, he sometimes felt overwhelmed by it. In a May 21, 2020, entry, he noted his prominence and President Trump’s admiration despite stealing the spotlight.

Entries describe Fauci’s interactions with Trump during the pandemic’s early stage. He felt uneasy about rumors of discord between them, clarifying that infamous viral moments, such as a supposed facepalming during a Trump speech, were not intentional.

Fauci documented disagreements with Trump over issues like mask-wearing, with Trump once confronting Fauci about financial losses caused by the pandemic impact. Despite disagreements, Trump reassured Fauci, saying, “Tony, we are good, right?” Fauci confirmed, “We are good, Mr. President.”

Tensions heightened by August 2020 as Trump’s stance toward Fauci grew confrontational. Fauci expressed frustration with Trump’s public criticism, branding him an “idiot” for sharing inaccurate pandemic data.

Senator Paul’s office has yet to disclose the method of acquiring Fauci’s journal. Some entries reveal Fauci’s struggles with conspiracies connecting him to the virus’s origin. He noted that associates feared attempts to discredit him.

In April 2021, Fauci criticized Paul’s conspiracy theories and reflected on emails that, despite courteous exchanges, incited further scrutiny. A Senate clash in July 2021 over funding “gain-of-function” research ended with Fauci firmly denying any deception.

Fauci continued to document his contentious relationship with Senator Paul, with entries highlighting their ongoing disputes.