Inside Anthony Fauci's diary: What he wrote on COVID-19 origin, his rising fame and Trump’s bout with coronavirus

Published 30 July 2026 · health

US Chief Medical Adviser Dr Anthony Fauci, at the centre of the contentious Senate hearing on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, repeatedly invoked the

US Chief Medical Adviser Dr Anthony Fauci, at the centre of the contentious Senate hearing on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment, declining to answer more than 100questions. At the helm was Fauci's diary. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who accused Fauci of lying about the origins of the coronavirus, drew public attention to the latest proceeding by releasing more than 1,000 pages of a long-running diary that Fauci kept. The entries spanned December 2019 through December 2022. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What does Anthony Fauci's diary reveal about the origins of COVID-19? ⌵ Fauci's diary indicates he originally supported the idea that the virus spread from animals to humans, aligning with the World Health Organization's 'spillover' theory. He mentioned the market in Wuhan was not the source but an amplifier of the spread. 2 Why did Senator Rand Paul release excerpts from Fauci's diary? ⌵ Senator Rand Paul released excerpts to argue that Fauci's private writings contradict his public statements regarding the origins of COVID-19, suggesting Fauci misled Congress and the public. 3 How did Fauci respond to accusations of misleading the public about COVID-19? ⌵ Fauci's representatives claimed that the entries in his diary were consistent with his public statements, highlighting that he has always kept an open mind regarding the lab-leak theory since 2021. 4 What was Fauci's perspective on his relationship with Donald Trump during the pandemic? ⌵ Fauci's diary reflects a complicated relationship with Trump, noting initial support and concern for public health but later describing tensions over differing views on testing and COVID-19 policies. 5 Should the debate over COVID-19's origins focus more on Fauci's diary or scientific evidence? ⌵ The debate should prioritize scientific evidence regarding the origins of COVID-19, as many scientists believe it emerged naturally, despite ongoing political scrutiny related to Fauci's diary and his role in the pandemic response. According to the Associated Press, Paul drew on selected excerpts to argue that Fauci’s “private record tells a different story” than what he told the country. In a White House report titled 'Lab Leak (The True Origins of Covid-19)', Fauci has been accused of pushing a "preferred narrative" that the virus originated naturally – a claim which was repeatedly used by public health officials and the media to discredit the lab-leak theory. Here are some takeaways from the diaries, including quotes that have been edited to remove typos COVID origin: Lab leak or natural spillover Fauci's journals do not reveal new information about the origin of the pandemic.