Ex-FDA commissioner confronted on 'outrageous' Fauci diaries by CNBC host

Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner, was confronted about former National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Anthony Fauci's diaries on Monday in a back-and-forth on CNBC, which host Joe Kernen called "outrageous."

"How about your buddy Fauci, that I've asked you about in the past. You've defended him quite a bit," Kernen said. "I've asked about whether he orchestrated a cover-up of the lab origin because of his involvement in making gain-of-function research possible again in China, which he did. He knew that would come back to haunt him and then basically told his colleagues go with the natural origin. It was obvious three years ago, Scott, to me anyway, and everybody else, that he orchestrated that."

Fauci’s diary entries were released on Saturday by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., detailing the doctor’s role during the COVID-19 crisis through conversations with President Donald Trump, governors, world leaders, media appearances and his personal observations as the pandemic unfolded in 2020.

"Well look, and I've looked through the emails, some of them have been online, I think it's disappointing to see him trying to suppress alternative opinions, and that clearly was evidence from the emails. I thought it was disappointing. The part of it that also disappointed me was how much he enjoyed the media associated with the event and his own appearances," Gotlieb said.

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"I think a lot of us went on to media out of a sense of obligation," he continued. "It was a hard time for all of us. I know it was a hard time for you. I think a lot of us felt an obligation to inform the public. And it wasn't particularly enjoyable. I mean, I got a lot of threats, others did as well, associated with that, and so to see those emails where he is evidencing some pleasure in the notoriety that he achieved, that's disappointing."

Kernen pushed back and said it was "outrageous."

"Does having a reputation totally in the toilet at 85 years, does that hold him to account for what he was responsible for?" Kernen asked.

Gottlieb said the Fauci he knew over the years was not the one he saw in the emails, and said the former NIH head was always careful and thoughtful.

Kernen specifically brought up Fauci's relationship with members of the liberal media. Fauci’s closest media ally appeared to have been CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who was mentioned 41 times in the diary.

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"Did you figure out the obsession with mainstream media in defending him and Jake Tapper having multiple dinners and best friends? What did that come from? And I know people around here that would call Tony Fauci a hero," Kernen said.

Gottlieb said he couldn't dissect the relationship, but again said he was disappointed by the emails.

Fauci did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

According to the diary, Tapper texted Fauci to mock rival cable news hosts and other doctors. On one occasion, Tapper called to check on Fauci after an appearance on his show irked Trump supporters.

"Jake wanted to make sure the interview did not cause me any problems," Fauci wrote on April 13, 2020.

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In July 2020, Fauci gushed that he was forming a friendship with Tapper.

"Had dinner over Jake Tapper and Jen Tapper’s home in DC. Terrific couple. Friendship building," Fauci wrote, according to the diary.

Later that month, Fauci wrote that he "gave Jake some questions to ask" pediatrician Brett Giroir during an interview on CNN’s "State of the Union." But Tapper would later express frustration, waking Fauci up in the process.

"Tapper woke me up at 11:23 AM (I went to bed early) furius [sic] at POTUS for tweeting about the fact that Jake severly [sic] questioned Brett Giroir on SOTU CNN show today. Jake was really pissed at the craziness of it all," Fauci wrote.

Fox News' Brian Flood and Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.