Americans express significantly more trust in infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci than in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to a recent national survey. Despite Kennedy's efforts to criticize Fauci, the physician-scientist maintains higher public confidence.
The Annenberg Public Policy Center survey found 54 percent of respondents have confidence in Fauci, compared to 38 percent for Kennedy. "Very confident" ratings further illustrate this gap, with 25 percent for Fauci versus 9 percent for Kennedy.
The data also shows a broader trust disparity between career scientists at federal health agencies and their appointed leaders. While 67 percent trust career scientists at the CDC, FDA, and NIH, only 43 percent trust the leaders of these agencies. This suggests a public differentiation between the guidance provided by experienced scientists and that from political appointees.