Authors
Since the second half of June ‘21, social media posts claiming “Dr Fauci sacked. US admits virus is man made” have been gaining momentum.
One such post shared by a Twitter user is captioned, “Dr Faucci sacked. US admits virus is man made. Dr Fauci becomes the first wicket to fall in usa administration. Though slightly late. #COVID_19 WATCH THE VIDEO”.
The post includes a two-minute twenty-seconds video of Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and House Republicans discussing the Fire Fauci Act.
In the video, Republican Greene can be heard saying, “Dr Fauci was not elected by the American people. He was not chosen to guide our economy. He was not chosen to rule over parents and their children’s education. But yet Dr Fauci very much controlled our lives for the past year….it’s time to fire Anthony Fauci and give answers to the American people..”
Many users on Twitter and Facebook shared this claim accompanied by the video. The claim, “Dr Faucci sacked. US admits virus is man made” has been circulating on Whatsapp as well.
Newschecker received this claim on its Whatsapp tip line for verification.
Also Read: False Claim Calling PM Narendra Modi A “Dangerous Patriot” Attributed To New York Times
Fact Check / Verification
As per the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ website, Dr Anthony Fauci continues to hold the Director’s position in the institute. There has also been no official news shared by the institute stating that Dr Fauci has been removed from this position.
On 4 June, 2021 when US President Joe Biden was asked about Dr Fauci, he replied, “Yes, I’m very confident in Dr. Fauci.”
Contrary to the second part of the claim, the United States government has not admitted to the novel coronavirus disease being man-made. On 26 May 2021, the US President said that he’s asked the Intelligence Community to investigate the origins of COVID-19 and report back to him in 90 days.
Around mid-june 2021, a bill to fire Dr Fauci was introduced. Republican Greene along with her colleagues announced the “Fire Fauci Act” which would reduce the famed infectious disease expert’s government salary to zero and require a new Director to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The video accompanying the false claim on Dr Fauci being sacked shows Republican Greene announcing the “Fire Fauci Act” in a press conference. Note: the bill has not been passed yet.
With regards to the emails being referenced in Republican Greene’s announcement, the Poynter Institute’s PolitiFact, debunked claims which said that COVID-19 was man-made after emails to Fauci received in response to a Freedom of Information Act were published.
“The only email that came close to matching that claim noted that while some evidence suggested the virus might be man-made, more work was needed and that opinion could change. The email presented a possibility — a starting point for more research — not a conclusion. The man who wrote that email concluded that the virus developed naturally in a scientific journal article in March 2020,” reads PolitiFact’s fact-check.
Also Read: An Old Image Of Manila’s Garbage-Ridden River Falsely Passed Off As Mumbai’s Mithi River
Conclusion
Our research makes it clear that neither has Dr Fauci been sacked nor has the US government admitted to COVID-19 being man-made.
Result: False
Our Sources
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/anthony-s-fauci-md-bio
The White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/06/04/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-may-jobs-report/
Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2316/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22fire+fauci+act%22%5D%7D&r=1&s=2
Sky News Australia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYggh9yIEIo
If you would like us to fact check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill the form.
