From lab leak theory to 'fabulous' Julia Roberts: Top 5 wild revelations in Fauci's diaries

WASHINGTON, DC: Former NIH Director Dr Anthony Fauci returned to Capitol Hill this week as Republicans intensified their investigation into his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, including questions surrounding the virus' origins and the federal response.

Ahead of the hearing, Senator Rand Paul released more than 1,000 pages of Fauci's pandemic-era diary entries, saying the records shed new light on internal deliberations, private conversations and key decisions made during the public health crisis. Here are five of the biggest revelations from those records. 

Fauci considered lab leak a possibility early on

One of the most controversial entries comes from January and February 2020, when Fauci documented internal discussions over where Covid-19 originated. In a January 26, 2020, entry, he wrote, "Now we know the market was not the source, it was the amplifier," while adding that the virus had still likely jumped from animals to humans somewhere else.

Fauci also recorded that during a February 1, 2020, conference call, several leading scientists believed "deliberate insertion" remained a possible explanation for the virus. Paul has argued the entry shows Fauci privately considered the lab leak theory credible early in the pandemic before later publicly emphasizing a natural origin. Fauci has denied covering up Covid-19's origins.

Fauci highlighted concerns over vaccine messaging

In an August 2022 diary entry, Fauci wrote that advisers opposed saying the vaccines no longer prevented infection or transmission, instead describing their protection as "modest and waning," saying they were concerned that stronger language could discourage booster uptake and complicate DOJ's defense of vaccine mandates.

Sharing the entry on X, Paul wrote: "That is not science. That is a cover-up to justify coercion."

Fauci grew increasingly critical of Trump 

Several diary entries trace the evolution of Fauci's relationship with President Donald Trump during the pandemic. While Fauci initially wrote that Trump praised him publicly and privately, later entries became increasingly critical of the president's handling of the crisis. 

Fauci described White House briefings as "rambling," accused Trump of misrepresenting Covid-19 death figures, and, in later entries, wrote that Trump was "out of control" and a "total embarrassment," adding that he was "on the campaign trail spewing nonsense." 

His role in early lockdown recommendations

Fauci's diary suggests he advised local officials on early Covid-19 restrictions. He wrote that he recommended school closures, restaurant shutdowns and a "shelter in place" order to then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and recorded a similar discussion with California Governor Gavin Newsom's office that preceded statewide closures.

The entries have drawn renewed attention because Fauci told a House panel in 2024 that he was not involved in state or local decisions to close schools and had repeatedly advocated reopening them "as quickly and as safely as possible."

Fondly described conversation with Roberts

In a May 2020 entry, he described a "wonderful" Instagram discussion with actress Julia Roberts, writing that she was "absolutely fabulous" and "embarrassed" him by calling him her "personal hero" at the start of the conversation.

Fauci wrote that they discussed Covid-19's impact on developing countries and the importance of including them in vaccine trials, adding that Roberts was "totally down to earth" and that it was a "Great experience!!"