Private diary entries from Dr. Anthony Fauci reveal he privately claimed credit for recommending COVID-19 lockdowns and other restrictive measures, directly contradicting his public statements made during and after the pandemic. The entries suggest Fauci saw himself as instrumental in decisions to close schools, bars, and restaurants in major cities.
In a March 15, 2020, entry, Fauci, then director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), wrote that he had spoken with then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and convinced him to close city schools. He noted that de Blasio had already been considering the closure based on Fauci's public statements.
Fauci's diary also indicated he advised de Blasio to close bars and restaurants in New York City, and that the mayor agreed to base his decision on Fauci's recommendation. Five days later, according to the diary, Fauci advised de Blasio to implement a citywide "shelter in place" order, despite potential pushback from then-Governor Andrew Cuomo. Fauci wrote that he intended to speak with Cuomo to advocate for the measure.
Similar entries detail Fauci's involvement in California's response. He noted a conversation with Ann O’Leary, chief of staff to then-Governor Gavin Newsom, stating that based on his television appearances, the governor decided to close schools, bars, and restaurants in the state.
Further entries suggest Fauci's influence extended to encouraging broader lockdown measures. On March 29, 2020, he described a meeting with then-President Donald Trump aimed at extending the initial "15 days to stop the spread" initiative. Fauci wrote that he believed convincing Trump to extend mitigation efforts for another 30 days instead of ending them prematurely was a success, calling the alternative a "disaster."
In a November 28, 2020, entry, Fauci recounted a call from a Los Angeles County health official, Mark Ghaly, who was seeking support for a three-week shutdown to combat a surge in cases. Fauci stated he agreed to support the lockdown due to the potential for hospital beds to be overrun.
These private accounts stand in contrast to public statements made by Fauci. In an October 16, 2022, interview with ABC News, he denied recommending lockdowns, stating, "I had nothing to do [with it]!" He reiterated this stance in a January 9, 2024, testimony before the House Oversight Committee, where he said, "I did not close the schools."
In a 2022 interview with The Hill, Fauci also claimed he "didn't recommend locking anything down." However, in an earlier CBS News interview on October 7, 2020, Fauci had stated, "I recommended to the president that we shut the country down" when community spread became apparent.
The newly revealed diary entries raise questions about the accuracy of Fauci's public accounts and his role in shaping the pandemic response. Critics have pointed to a perceived fixation on personal accolades in his diaries rather than a focus on public health terms, prompting scrutiny of his priorities during the crisis.