Former US Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb was pressed by CNBC host Joe Kernen during a live interview on Monday over revelations contained in diary entries kept by Dr Anthony Fauci, the former National Institutes of Health official. Gottlieb, appearing on the broadcast to discuss the material, conceded that he found the diary entries "disappointing", a rare admission of discomfort from a fellow public health figure. The exchange has fed into wider controversy over Fauci's conduct during his tenure, with the diaries prompting strong reactions from critics and commentators.

According to reporting on the diaries, the entries reportedly show Fauci feeding questions to journalists and cultivating close relationships with media figures, with some commentators, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr, alleging he prioritised media appearances over public health messaging. The full detail of Gottlieb's exchange with Kernen was not completely specified in available reporting, but his acknowledgment that the material was "disappointing" marked a notable moment given his own past role in federal health leadership.