Newsweek
AS Bias Certification
Center Certified
Headline Roundup
Type of Content
Approved Story
1
Format
Region
News Item Format
Standard
Image Caption
STEFANI REYNOLDS-POOL/GETTY IMAGES
Community
Dr. Anthony Fauci appears to have lost patience with his critics in recent weeks, reacting angrily to criticism of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and suggestions that he has not been honest in his dealings with Congress.
Fauci, who is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), had angry exchanges with senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) at a hearing of the Senate Health Committee on Tuesday and was heard on a hot mic calling Marshall a "moron."
On December 21, 2021, Fauci called for the firing of Fox News host Jesse Watters following controversial remarks he had made at a Turning Points USA conference about an "ambush" of the infectious diseases expert.
Fauci's willingness to clash openly with critics contrasts with the avuncular image he enjoyed toward the beginning of the pandemic.