Fauci's diary shows he fed questions to journalists, built friendships with media figures

Dr. Anthony Fauci opened up about his relationships with various media personalities in a series of controversial diary entries that put a spotlight on the former White House COVID advisor's cozy relationship with the press. 

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. The stunning diary entries reveal that Fauci made fast friends with members of the liberal media who were tasked with covering the pandemic. 

Fauci’s closest media ally appeared to have been CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who was mentioned 41 times in the eyebrow-raising diary. 

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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. 

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. 

The late-night tirade couldn’t have bothered Fauci too much, as he invited Tapper to dinner at his home months later. 

"Had dinner at my home with Jake and Jennifer Tapper. Relaxed, good time. Jake clearly believes that Trump is totally nuts," Fauci wrote on Oct. 23, 2020. 

FAUCI'S NEWLY RELEASED COVID DIARIES REVEAL BIZARRE FIXATION ON FAME AS PANDEMIC DEATHS MOUNTED

CNN’s Dana Bash sent Fauci a text message in April 2021 after a contentious House Select Subcommittee hearing over COVID-19, according to the diary. The CNN star complimented Fauci and informed the doctor that her CNN colleague also picked a side. 

"Dana Bash sent me a text: ‘I just watched the whole Jordan thing. Again, you’re a better man than I …. As our friend Wolf Blitzer said to me yesterday — no one would have blamed you if you said simply ‘Mr. Jordan, go f--- yourself,’" Fauci wrote. 

Tapper and Bash went on to moderate the CNN Republican Presidential Primary Debate between then-President Biden and President Trump in 2024. 

Meanwhile, Andrea Mitchell celebrated July 4, 2020, by offering a mea culpa to Fauci, who believed the White House was limiting his TV exposure. 

"Andrea Mitchell called my cell very apologetic about not being able to have me on the show since they already booked a couple of governors who were giving exclusives to NBC. I mentioned to her my concern about them keeping me off the air. She was shocked and thought that when I did not come on after requests that it was because I did not want to go on a show," Fauci wrote. 

INSIDE FAUCI'S PRIVATE DIARY: WHAT HE WROTE ABOUT TRUMP, TV PERSONALITIES AND CELEBRITIES

Fauci also had a texting relationship with then-NBC News host Chuck Todd. 

"I had a really nice conversation with Chuck Todd this morning. He had texted me to ask what I thought of the interview yesterday. I told him that I thought it was absolutely terrific, but I wanted some advice from him. I asked him whether he thought that I should pull back from publicly defending myself against the slanderous attacks since that might call more attention to them," Fauci wrote. 

Fauci also revealed that ABC’s George Stephanopoulos texted him following an interview on "Good Morning America" in July 2020. Apparently, Stephanopoulos was impressed that Fauci dismissed a mean tweet from Trump. 

"Thank you, Tony. So impressive," Stephanopoulos wrote, according to the diary. 

Fauci boasted early in the diary that he prepped CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jonathan LaPook for a TV appearance. 

"Also, Jon LaPook was interviewed on CBS Morning News and mentioned me several times since he e-mailed (sic) me over the weekend to prep him for his interview on Universal Flu vaccine and HIV vaccines," Fauci wrote. 

Representatives for NBC News, ABC News and CBS News did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. A spokesperson for CNN declined to comment.