Fauci criticizes 'extreme' ideological divide that has led to disproportionate Covid deaths among Republicans

Anthony Fauci, the federal government's top infectious disease expert and a chief proponent of Covid vaccines, sharply criticized the "extreme" ideological divide that he said has led to a disproportionate number of coronavirus deaths among Republicans compared to Democrats.

In an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt that aired Wednesday night, Fauci said he thought political viewpoints had a measurable effect on the number of people who could have been saved by the coronavirus vaccines.

"I mean, differences in ideology are healthy. It’s part of our democracy, part of what makes our country great. But when they get so extreme that it prevents you from doing something that’s lifesaving, that is really awful," he said on "Nightly News."

Dr. Anthony Fauci one on one with Lester Holt

04:52

Several studies have found that Covid deaths are unevenly distributed among Republicans and Democrats. One study, published in September by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that so-called excess death rates, or deaths elevated beyond what is expected based on historical trends, were 76% higher in Florida and Ohio among Republicans than Democrats from March 2020 to December 2021.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSNew AI tool for voters offers a specialized chatbot to explain your ballot

FOR SUBSCRIBERSWhat the rural data center boom looks like, from the people who have lived through it

FOR SUBSCRIBERSInteractive map: How far do you live from the nearest data center?

FOR SUBSCRIBERSiPhone Duo review: The good, bad and the buggy

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAnger over rising prices could be decisive in Alaska’s unusually close Senate race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDOJ weighs election litigation against more states

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP Senate hopeful Ashley Hinson balances standing by Trump and standing up to him in Iowa

FOR SUBSCRIBERSInside the reopened U.S. Embassy in Caracas

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAIPAC shifts tactics amid voter frustration with Israel

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe viral attack ad featuring an estranged mother

FOR SUBSCRIBERSU.S. troops and diplomats evacuating Middle East posts, sources say

FOR SUBSCRIBERSBogus trans youth brochure rattles Texas voters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSWho knew a basket could be sexy? How ‘Wicker’ became fall’s surprise must-see

FOR SUBSCRIBERSExperts explain how an AI kill switch could work

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCalifornia’s billionaire tax faces a mountain of opposition — and not just from the rich

Slide 1 of 1

“The degree of divisiveness in this country right now has really led to such a polarization that it has interfered with an adequate science-based public health response,” said Fauci, who was a member of former President Donald Trump's Covid task force.

“I mean, it’s just extraordinary that you have under-vaccination in red states and good levels of vaccination in blue states, which gets translated into a disproportionate amount of suffering and death among Republicans compared to Democrats,” he added. “That’s completely crazy.”

Fauci was asked whether he regretted how he handled congressional hearings in which he was personally attacked — including by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who frequently criticized Fauci's handling of the pandemic.

"I think 99.9% of the time, I have been my usual self, which is very calm and measured," Fauci said. "The only time I really got upset was when Senator Paul, totally inappropriately, on national TV, that was following that hearing, accused me of being responsible for the death of 5 million people. Now, with all due respect, I’m not going to take that from anybody, including a senator. ... When you start off by, you know, being accusatory based on no evidence whatsoever and making a slanderous comment that that has to go answered, you can’t let that go unanswered."

Fauci on sparring with Sen. Paul: ‘I’m not going to take that from anybody’

01:06

Fauci is scheduled to appear Friday at a virtual town hall hosted by the White House urging people to get Covid boosters ahead of the winter holidays, in what is likely to be one of his last public appearances as President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser. Fauci announced in August that he would step down at the end of the year.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSNew AI tool for voters offers a specialized chatbot to explain your ballot

FOR SUBSCRIBERSWhat the rural data center boom looks like, from the people who have lived through it

FOR SUBSCRIBERSInteractive map: How far do you live from the nearest data center?

FOR SUBSCRIBERSiPhone Duo review: The good, bad and the buggy

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAnger over rising prices could be decisive in Alaska’s unusually close Senate race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDOJ weighs election litigation against more states

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP Senate hopeful Ashley Hinson balances standing by Trump and standing up to him in Iowa

FOR SUBSCRIBERSInside the reopened U.S. Embassy in Caracas

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAIPAC shifts tactics amid voter frustration with Israel

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe viral attack ad featuring an estranged mother

FOR SUBSCRIBERSU.S. troops and diplomats evacuating Middle East posts, sources say

FOR SUBSCRIBERSBogus trans youth brochure rattles Texas voters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSWho knew a basket could be sexy? How ‘Wicker’ became fall’s surprise must-see

FOR SUBSCRIBERSExperts explain how an AI kill switch could work

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCalifornia’s billionaire tax faces a mountain of opposition — and not just from the rich

Slide 1 of 1

Fauci also said over the summer that he would leave his job at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which he has directed since 1984. But he said he does not plan to retire.

In his interview, Fauci reiterated that he is "not even close" to retiring.

Fauci previously told NBC News he is exploring plans that could include work in academia, for a foundation or on his own, adding that he is “highly likely” to write a book.