by Jim Hᴏft
Jul. 28, 2026 8:15 am
Former FDA Commissioner and current Pfizer board member Scott Gottlieb appeared visibly uncomfortable Monday as CNBC’s Joe Kernen repeatedly confronted him over Dr. Anthony Fauci’s conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The heated exchange unfolded on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” just two days before Fauci is scheduled to testify under subpoena before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Fauci will appear on Wednesday, July 29, at 8:30 a.m. ET before the committee chaired by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), according to the official hearing notice.
Paul subpoenaed Fauci after the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director reportedly backed out of an earlier agreement to testify voluntarily.
Kernen wasted no time putting Gottlieb on the spot.
“How about your buddy Fauci?” Kernen asked. “I’ve asked you about him in the past. You’ve defended him quite a bit.”
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