Anthony Fauci vs Republicans: 5 Biggest Clashes

Dr. Anthony Fauci often found himself at odds with Republican lawmakers over the U.S. government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, elements of which are covered in his new memoir, On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service.

And thanks to cameras in congressional hearings, you can watch Fauci's clashes with high-profile Republicans, five of which Newsweek has detailed below.

"That kindles the crazies"

Fauci probably clashed more with Kentucky Senator Rand Paul in public more than any other Republican. The pair have disagreed on several COVID-related issues, such as the efficacy of natural immunity versus vaccination.

In a 2022 Senate committee on COVID-19, Paul alleged that Fauci conspired to disparage dissenting scientists.

"In usual fashion, Senator, you are distorting everything about me," said Fauci, adding that Paul was "incorrect."

Paul continued to press Fauci on the issue, to which Fauci responded "you're completely turning it around, as you usually do."

He described Paul's accusations as "personal attacks" that had "absolutely no relevance to reality."

Paul also questioned the influence Fauci wielded over America's pandemic strategy.

Fauci replied: "You accuse me of in a monolithic way, telling people what they need to do. Everything that I've said has been in support of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines."

He went on to say that Paul's remarks about him led to threats upon his life.

"That kindles the crazies out there," Fauci said, citing the arrest of a man in Iowa, found to have an assault rife in his car, who said he was going to kill Fauci.

"You are entirely and completely incorrect"

That wasn't the first time the two men had a heated exchange in a hearing. In May 2021, Paul accused the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) where Fauci was the director at the time, of funding gain of function research by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which is located in the same region where the COVID-19 virus was discovered.

Gain of function research involves experiments that aim to increase the ability of a pathogen to cause disease. This can include making a virus more transmissible, more virulent, or able to evade the immune system more effectively. The research is often conducted to understand how pathogens evolve and to develop better preventive measures, such as vaccines and treatments.

Paul has alleged that the institute is the origin of the COVID-19 virus.

In response to the accusation, Fauci said, "Senator Paul, with all due respect, you are entirely and completely incorrect. The NIH has not ever, and does not now, fund 'gain of function research' in the Wuhan Institute."

"You do not know what you are talking about"

At another hearing in 2021, Rand pressed Fauci again on gain of function research, and possible connections between the spread of COVID-19 and labs in Wuhan.

Fauci dismissed the "Senator Paul, you do not know what you are talking about, quite frankly, and I want to say that officially. You do not know what you are talking about."

Newsweek has emailed Paul's office for comment.

"You're not a doctor, you're Mr. Fauci"

In a congressional hearing earlier in June, Fauci faced a grilling from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on COVID-era rules.

Referring to pandemic guidelines issued such as social distancing and mask mandates, Greene asked: "Do the American people deserve to be abused like that, Mr. Fauci?"

"Because you're not a doctor, you're Mr. Fauci, in my few minutes."

Before Fauci could response, Greene said, "Nah, I don't need your answer."

She also said his license should be revoked and that he "belongs in prison."

"You know what this committee should be doing? We should be recommending you to be prosecuted. We should be writing a criminal referral because you should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. You belong in prison, Dr. Fauci," she said.

In the same hearing, Greene also held up an image which she said depicted dogs being experimented on, and experiment she claimed Fauci "signed off" on.

Fauci asked: "What do dogs have to do with anything that we're talking about today?"

The lawmaker has long been a critic of Fauci, having previously said on Steve Bannon's War Room podcast that she felt he should be jailed.

Newsweek has emailed Greene's office for comment.

"Making this a personal thing"

Jim Jordan, Representative from Ohio, and Fauci clashed in a 2021 hearing held by the House Coronavirus Crisis Subcommittee, when the pair went back and forth debating the balance between public health and individual liberties in the government's pandemic strategy.

"You're indicating liberty and freedom. I look at it as a public health measure to prevent people dying and going to the hospital," said Fauci.

Jordan asked: "You don't think Americans' liberties have been threatened the last year Dr. Fauci?"

"I don't look at this as a liberty thing... I look at this as a public health thing," was Fauci's response.

Fauci claimed Jordan was "making this a personal thing," which Jordan denied.

"That's exactly what you're doing."

"My recommendations are not a personal recommendation. It's based on the CDC guidance."

Newsweek has contacted Jordan via Instagram for comment.

Fauci is an immunologist who served as the Director of NIAID from 1984 until 2022. Born on December 24, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, Fauci obtained his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1966. Throughout his tenure, he played significant roles in addressing various infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, SARS, and COVID-19.

His contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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