Dr. Anthony Fauci, who served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 2022, is featured in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History's "Entertainment Nation" exhibit. The display includes a signed Washington Nationals baseball cap he wore while throwing the ceremonial first pitch when Major League Baseball resumed play during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
A placard accompanying the exhibit describes Fauci as a leading epidemiologist who urged sports leagues to make decisions based on scientific evidence and public health judgment. "Amidst a cacophony of misinformation and denial, advice from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading epidemiologist, urged leagues to make decisions about resuming play 'based on scientific evidence and public health judgment,'" the display reads.
The exhibit placement comes as the Smithsonian Institution faces scrutiny from both Congress and the White House over content at its museums. The American History museum's director, Anthea Hartig, testified before Congress last week regarding sexually explicit imagery, references to racism linked to Mickey Mouse, and a toolkit linking "objectivity" and punctuality to white supremacy.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive defenders of the Smithsonian have pushed back against what they characterize as political interference with cultural institutions. Democratic lawmakers and public health advocates argue that Fauci's inclusion reflects documented historical record rather than ideological messaging.
Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., has spoken in defense of museum autonomy, stating that cultural institutions should present historical events without political pressure. "The Smithsonian exists to document American history accurately, including our public health responses," Lee said at a press conference last month.
Public health organizations have also defended Fauci's scientific contributions. The Infectious Diseases Society of America released a statement noting that the pandemic claimed 1.2 million American lives and that public health officials provided guidance during an unprecedented crisis. "Dr. Fauci served the nation during its greatest public health emergency in modern history," the statement said.
Some progressive commentators have argued that criticism of the exhibit represents an attempt to rewrite recent history. Vox senior correspondent Aaron Blake wrote that attacks on the Smithsonian reflect broader efforts to challenge pandemic-era policies. "The push against the Fauci display is part of a larger narrative that seeks to relitigate public health decisions made under extraordinary circumstances," he wrote.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics argue the exhibit presents an uncritical hero narrative for a figure whose pandemic guidance was later revised and who faced questions about consistency between private statements and public testimony. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., has been among Fauci's most vocal Republican critics.
"The American taxpayer should not be funding hagiography for someone currently under investigation for potential discrepancies between their public statements and private communications," Paul said during last week's Senate hearing where Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsey Halligan told Fox News Digital that the administration has concerns about institutional messaging. "American taxpayers should not be funding institutions that undermine our country or promote one-sided, divisive political narratives. The Smithsonian Institution should present history in a way that is accurate, balanced, and consistent with the values that make the United States of America exceptional," she said.
President Donald Trump ordered the National Park Service to place signs outside the museum directing visitors to what his administration calls an "accurate" version of American history. On Truth Social, Trump criticized the institution as "woke" and "OUT OF CONTROL."
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro argued on his program that the exhibit ignores legitimate criticism of pandemic policies. "The Smithsonian is choosing to memorialize someone whose guidance led to school closures, business shutdowns, and significant civil liberties restrictions without acknowledging any of the debates around those decisions," Shapiro said.
What the Numbers Show
Dr. Fauci served as NIAID director for 38 years under both Democratic and Republican administrations. He advised every White House from Reagan through Biden on infectious disease policy.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in approximately 1.2 million deaths in the United States, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data through late 2023. The United States had one of the highest per-capita COVID death rates among developed nations.
Fauci's public statements evolved throughout the pandemic as scientific understanding changed. Early guidance suggested masks were not necessary for the general public; that recommendation was reversed in April 2020. The CDC ultimately estimated that by early 2022, approximately 95% of Americans had been infected with COVID-19 at least once.
Federal spending on COVID-19 relief totaled approximately $5 trillion across multiple legislative packages, including the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan. Economic shutdowns contributed to a 3.4% unemployment rate in April 2020 before recovery.
The Bottom Line
The Smithsonian exhibit has become a focal point in broader debates about cultural institutions, pandemic response accountability, and government messaging about recent history. The White House and congressional Republicans have signaled continued scrutiny of museum content.
Fauci remains a figure whose legacy is contested: defenders emphasize his decades of public service during multiple disease outbreaks including HIV/AIDS, SARS, and Ebola; critics point to evolving guidance during COVID-19 and questions about consistency between private and public statements.
What happens next may depend on ongoing congressional investigations. Sen. Paul's committee has indicated it will continue requesting documents from Fauci's tenure. Separately, the Smithsonian faces pressure over broader exhibit content, with administration officials calling for what they describe as more balanced presentations of American history.
The intersection of pandemic accountability and cultural representation at taxpayer-funded institutions is likely to remain a political flashpoint through the 2026 midterm election cycle.