Several years after the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic ended, Anthony Fauci has once again found himself at the center of an American political battle. This time, the trigger was the publication of entries from his personal diary, which have become a new argument for critics of the former top U.S. epidemiologist and, at the same time, an example of how differently the American media evaluate the same events.

The story surrounding Fauci has long gone beyond the bounds of a medical discussion. His name has become a symbol of a broader debate over who made decisions during the pandemic and how: scientists, government officials, or elected politicians.

What was found in Fauci’s diaries

According to The Washington Post, the published material consists of more than a thousand pages of notes that Fauci kept during the pandemic.

The newspaper drew attention not only to controversial points but also to the scientist’s personal reflections — his attitude toward working amid a political crisis, conflicts with Donald Trump’s administration, and his unexpected global fame.

One of the main points of contention involved entries from March 2020 related to school closures and restrictive measures.

Conservative TV channel Fox News focused precisely on these episodes. The outlet wrote that the diary entries contradict Fauci’s earlier public statements that he did not make decisions about closing schools or imposing lockdowns. As a key example, Fox News cited an entry about Fauci’s conversation with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, in which the scientist described his role in discussions about school closures and other restrictive measures.

Fauci’s critics said these entries show a gap between his public image as an independent adviser and the real influence he had on government decisions.

However, other media outlets presented the situation differently.

The Washington Post emphasized that the diary primarily shows the inner workings of one of the leading figures in the U.S. healthcare system during an unprecedented crisis. The newspaper noted that the entries reflect the authorities’ struggle with rapidly changing information and the conflict between scientific recommendations and political decisions.

Old disputes get new fuel

The new publications have revived several issues that have remained the subject of political conflict in the United States for several years.

One of them is the question of lockdowns.

Republican critics of Fauci argue that he had far more influence over restrictions than he publicly acknowledged. They believe the diary confirms their version: that the expert effectively participated in making decisions that changed the daily lives of millions of Americans.

Fox News linked the publication of the diaries to long-standing accusations against Fauci, including complaints about his role in closing schools and recommendations on combating the spread of the virus.

Fauci’s supporters respond that in the first months of the pandemic, government agencies were acting under conditions of extreme uncertainty. In their view, recommendations changed not because information was being concealed, but because scientists were gradually obtaining new data about the virus.

A political weapon ahead of congressional hearings

The publication of the diaries coincided with another stage of congressional investigations into Fauci’s activities, as he appeared before Congress this week.

Especially active in opposing him was Republican Senator Rand Paul, who for several years has called for a deeper investigation into the decisions made during the pandemic.

American media noted that for Republicans, the Fauci case has become part of a broader campaign to reassess COVID-19-era policies — from lockdowns to the question of the virus’s origin.

At the same time, supporters of the country’s former top immunologist believe that the investigations have turned into a political process against a man who became the face of unpopular decisions.