Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has been at the forefront of the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed that both he and his family have been subjected to violent and sexual explicit threats.
During an appearance on “The View,” Fauci expressed his concern over the serious threats he has received. “You know, obviously, you always take threats that people take seriously, but I, quite frankly, don’t know what they’re talking about,” he said. “What are the charges? That you saved millions of lives with the vaccine that you helped develop, or that you got people to do things that made them more safe against a deadly pandemic that killed 1.2 million people.”
Fauci, who has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly four decades and advised seven presidents, addressed the emotions he has experienced in response to the threats. “The thing about it is this is what I’m doing, and it is what it is, and I wouldn’t do anything different. Of course, nobody likes to be threatened — and I’m threatened with real, credible threats,” he explained. “The thing that infuriates me is the cowardliness of people who harass my wife and my children. You know, three young women in the beginning of their professional life, getting harassed both for violent and sexual explicit threats. That’s unconscionable.”
Fauci and his wife, Christine Grady, have three daughters. Reflecting on the harassment, Fauci questioned the state of the nation, saying, “And is that a reflection of who we are in this country? What is that, I just don’t get that.” Despite the challenges, Fauci remains determined to carry out his important work in public health.
In his recently released memoir, “On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service,” Fauci discusses the resilience he has developed throughout his career in science and medicine. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the job at hand and not allowing distractions to deter him. “I joke about it, that Brooklyn tough suck-up-attitude that you focus on what your job is, and all that other stuff as unpleasant as it is, is a distraction,” he revealed. “What’s really important is your job. Saving lives, promoting public health, and your family. Anything else is nonsense.”
Let us all stand with Dr. Fauci and appreciate his dedication to public health and the well-being of the nation.
