New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds one-third (35%) of Americans trust Fauci more for public health guidance in a head-to-head with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., who is chosen by one-quarter (23%). A larger group of two-in-five (42%) select neither (27%) or are uncertain (15%).
Fair or Unfair?
Good Intentions
Fauci vs. RFK Jr.
Methodology
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Criticism of Fauci
Americans divided over whether criticism of Fauci has been fair
On July 29, Dr. Anthony Fauci testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee chaired by Sen. Rand Paul, invoking his Fifth Amendment right more than 100 times and declining to answer routine questions. A Senate committee subsequently voted along party lines to hold him in contempt of Congress, with Paul indicating he would refer the matter to the Justice Department.
Paul has accused Fauci of misleading Congress and has questioned whether US-funded research in China contributed to the pandemic, allegations Fauci denies. Fauci’s positioning as a lightning rod for criticism from the right leaves Americans divided: two-in-five (43%) say that criticism of him has been fair, while 36 per cent disagree. The split runs largely along political lines — MAGA Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to see the criticism as fair.
Angus Reid USA, online survey, Aug. 7-11, 2026, n=1,525 American adults.
Fauci's intentions
Half say Fauci was well-intentioned in handling COVID-19
The political spectacle surrounding Fauci is not new; criticism of him began early in the pandemic and escalated further just days before his July 29 hearing, when Sen. Paul released more than 1,100 pages of Fauci’s personal diary entries spanning December 2019 to December 2022. The diary revealed comments some have insinuated support the “lab leak” theory of COVID-19’s origin, though fact-checkers note the entries are consistent with Fauci’s views evolving alongside the science rather than evidence of deliberate deception.
Overall, Americans tend to give Fauci more credit than criticism over his intentions. Half (49%) say he was well-intentioned in how he handled COVID, while more than one-in-three disagree and the remainder are unsure.
Angus Reid USA, online survey, Aug. 7-11, 2026, n=1,525 American adults.
Health trust
Fauci generates more trust than RFK Jr. on health issues
An active, long-running feud continues between Dr. Fauci and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has recently renewed his attacks on Fauci over pandemic lockdowns and vaccine policy. The animosity predates Kennedy’s cabinet appointment: he has previously called Fauci unfit to advise on public health and said he would prosecute him if elected president, while Fauci has warned that Kennedy’s political rise could put lives at risk if his vaccine skepticism gains further influence.
Angus Reid USA, online survey, Aug. 7-11, 2026, n=1,525 American adults.
Their mutual hostility has likely not done medical confidence in the country any favors. Fauci’s advantage is driven largely by high trust among Democrats, while RFK Jr. leads among MAGA Republicans — and in every group, a substantial share trusts neither figure or isn’t sure.
Angus Reid USA, online survey, Aug. 7-11, 2026, n=1,525 American adults.
About this survey
Methodology and downloads
Angus Reid USA conducted an online survey from Aug. 7-11, 2026, among a representative randomized sample of 1,525 American adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum USA. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. The survey was self-commissioned and paid for by Angus Reid USA.
