Has Dr. Fauci done well managing the COVID pandemic?

Elliot (No)

Handling a crisis like COVID-19 would have been a significant challenge for even the most qualified individual. Still, while we can’t be too critical of those placed in such a crucial position of responsibility, Dr. Fauci clearly dropped the ball on several occasions. 

First, he “flip-flopped” between recommending masks and condemning mask usage--eventually telling people to wear two masks simultaneously. Fauci even stated that cloth masks help prevent the spread of COVID--a claim that has been largely refuted by mainstream researchers today. 

He was also inconsistent in terms of which groups were allowed to congregate. For example, church groups were strictly forbidden from gathering, while political protesters were allowed to get together in large crowds without any consequences or condemnation. 

Additionally, Fauci seemed laser-focused on vaccines--even for less at-risk populations like children--rather than addressing lifestyle choices that actually made people more vulnerable to COVID infection, such as unhealthy food consumption and lack of regular exercise. 

And while these inconsistent, seemingly random decisions seemed to be completely separate from scientific data, Fauci proclaimed that he “represented science.” Which could be interpreted as if someone criticized him for any reason, they were criticizing science. It goes without saying that one person cannot “represent” science, and, conversely, science is based on open discussion, debate, and people with differing points of view having the chance to voice their theories. 

Finally, Dr. Fauci may not have simply failed to handle the pandemic correctly, but he may have also played a role in its creation. Despite his protests, Fauci’s NIH actively funded gain-of-function research in places like Wuhan, giving more credibility to the lab-leak theory by the day. 

Chad (Yes)

Dr. Anthony Fauci handled the COVID-19 pandemic well, even though our country, as a whole, did not. The novel coronavirus appeared largely without warning, and in the beginning, everybody knew very little about it. In that context, scientists like Fauci adopted the precautionary principle, which calls for caution in the face of uncertainty.  

Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Fauci has worked tirelessly to keep the American public informed and updated. In the early days of the pandemic, he was answering around 2,000 emails a day and hosting more than 400 media events. This all saved countless lives during a time when our government was actively denying the threat of the virus and was busy disseminating misinformation. 

Dr. Fauci persevered through an administration that was largely 'anti-science' and dragged its feet on policies that could have saved lives and kept the economy running. 

Further, Dr. Fauci was also instrumental in the warp speed project that led to vaccine discovery and manufacturing. He appeared on countless programs to share information, answer questions, correct misconceptions, and calm fears about the vaccine when it was first released. 

Called a hero by many, Dr. Fauci is unfortunately also hated by those who fell prey to misinformation about the virus, its treatments, and vaccines. His job was always to be objective and behind the scenes, yet when his role suddenly shifted to one of publicity and politics, he did his best. He is not perfect, but he kept fighting for the American people despite death threats, slander, and personal attacks. America was lucky to have someone like Dr. Fauci when we needed him.