Chris Cillizza, former CNN editor-at-large, recently admitted to making significant errors in his assessment of Anthony Fauci’s credibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cillizza acknowledged in a series of tweets that he was wrong to dismiss conservative voices—including President Donald Trump—who challenged Fauci’s narrative. Reflecting on his past coverage, Cillizza conceded that his biases against Trump and his unquestioning trust in Fauci’s expertise caused him to overlook alternative viewpoints, particularly regarding the origins of COVID-19.
“If this was a debate between Donald Trump and Anthony Fauci on the origins of a pandemic-level virus, I was going to go with the guy who spent his entire career studying this stuff, not the reality TV-star-turned-president,” Cillizza wrote. However, as mounting evidence has bolstered the lab-leak theory—a hypothesis President Trump and many conservatives championed early on—Cillizza acknowledged that he failed to maintain a healthy skepticism toward official narratives.
“The lesson: Be skeptical — of experts or anyone else — when dealing with a rapidly developing and changing situation where no one has the ability to see a 360-degree view,” he added. Cillizza’s mea culpa comes at a time when public trust in health officials has plummeted, driven by shifting guidance, controversies over lockdown policies, and the politicization of COVID-19’s origins. Fauci, once widely regarded as a leading authority during the crisis, has become a deeply polarizing figure—praised by some as a steady hand but criticized by many for inconsistencies, missteps, and changing narratives.
Cillizza didn’t hold back in his self-criticism, noting that his personal distrust of Trump clouded his judgment. “My belief at the time was that Trump was just making it up. Like, he wanted to blame China for the virus. And it having leaked from an infectious disease lab — whether accidentally or intentionally — made that case much easier to make,” he admitted.
“Do I think that’s what happened?” he asked. “That Trump knew — like, really knew — way back then that Covid had come from a lab? Or was he just saying stuff — and that stuff wound up being proven correct in the long run? Honestly, I am not sure we will ever know.”
The timing of Cillizza’s remarks is particularly significant. Trump recently revoked Fauci’s federal security detail, arguing that former officials should not indefinitely rely on taxpayer-funded protection. Trump justified the decision by pointing out that Fauci, who profited substantially from book deals and media appearances, could afford private security. The move, coupled with the preemptive pardons issued by former President Joe Biden for Fauci and others, underscores the lasting political battles and deep divisions over the handling of the pandemic response.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary.