Inside Fauci's private diary: What he wrote about Trump, TV personalities and celebrities

Newly released diary entries by Dr. Anthony Fauci offer an unfiltered look at what the nation's top infectious disease expert really thought of the politicians, television personalities and celebrities who filled his orbit during the COVID-19 pandemic.Released by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky.

, the diaries chronicle Fauci's day-to-day role during the COVID-19 pandemic through meetings, phone calls and personal observations. The release comes days before Fauci is scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee after being subpoenaed by Paul.The entries feature everyone from President Donald Trump to Julia Roberts, Steph Curry, Larry Ellison and Hunter Biden, offering an unusually personal look at the people who crossed Fauci's path during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early entries portray a warm working relationship between Fauci and Trump. Fauci wrote that Trump repeatedly directed questions to him during White House meetings, called him "the smartest person in the world," told him, "We are counting on you," and later appeared "enamored" with him as Fauci's national profile grew.FAUCI'S NEWLY RELEASED COVID DIARIES REVEAL BIZARRE FIXATION ON FAME AS PANDEMIC DEATHS MOUNTEDFauci's relationship with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows deteriorated throughout the pandemic.

Fauci wrote that Meadows threatened to keep him off television, repeatedly pushed him to soften his public messaging and, in one entry, recounted Meadows "screaming" over his public comments.Fauci, however, repeatedly described then-White House communications director Alyssa Farah as an ally during internal battles over media appearances. In one May 2020 entry, he wrote that Farah admitted White House staff had been "holding me back," said the situation had "gotten out of hand" and promised to begin clearing his television requests again.

Not everyone in the administration's communications operation earned Fauci's praise. In a July