Dr. Anthony Fauci, formerly the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is featured prominently in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History within the "Entertainment Nation" exhibit. The display highlights his role during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting his advice to sports leagues on resuming play and his ceremonial first pitch for the Washington Nationals.
A placard accompanying the exhibit states, "As a deadly pandemic ravaged the nation, major sports leagues found themselves at the center of a debate over 'reopening' the country." It continues, "When baseball became the first league to retake the field, Fauci threw the ceremonial opening pitch—wearing a facemask in a stadium empty of fans." The exhibit also displays a signed Washington Nationals baseball cap worn by Fauci.
This exhibit comes as the Smithsonian faces increasing scrutiny from government officials and conservative lawmakers regarding its messaging. The museum has been criticized for content deemed "woke" and for promoting "one-sided, divisive political narratives." Earlier this year, the White House released a report criticizing the Smithsonian's portrayal of American history. President Donald Trump has also publicly called the museum "woke" and "OUT OF CONTROL."
Fauci himself has been under intense scrutiny, facing questions from the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Lawmakers have questioned NIH funding directed to the Wuhan lab through EcoHealth Alliance, the use of aborted fetal tissue in research, and his evolving public advice on mask mandates and lockdowns. Critics have challenged the scientific basis for many pandemic-era policies and Fauci's private remarks.
Recently exposed diary entries attributed to Fauci suggest a complex public and private stance on several pandemic-related issues. According to these private writings, Fauci acknowledged that mayors and health officials were following his advice to implement lockdowns in major cities, despite his public statements that he did not drive these decisions. The diary entries also reportedly show Fauci privately considering the possibility of a lab origin for COVID-19, while publicly maintaining other theories.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History has also faced criticism for other aspects of its exhibits, including a museum toolkit that linked politeness and punctuality to white supremacy and sexually explicit imagery in other displays. The director of the American History museum was questioned by Congress regarding these issues.
The controversy surrounding the Fauci exhibit and the museum's broader messaging highlights ongoing debates about the role and presentation of public health figures and historical narratives in federally funded institutions. The pandemic resulted in over 1.2 million American lives lost.