Fauci Texts Spark GOP Accusations of Pregnancy Vaccine Risks

Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul released text messages from Fauci's government phone on Aug. 10. In them, Fauci wrote on Jan. 25, 2021, that cytokine storm and fever after a second vaccine dose 'theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester.'

• 9 days later, Fauci said publicly the FDA found 'no red flags' for pregnant women.
• 34,000-plus texts and 522 voicemails are on the phone; only 3 contacts are saved.
• The Jan. 25–26 chain included then-CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
• Fauci also noted over 10,000 pregnant women had been vaccinated with 'no issues' at that point.

Why it matters: The texts create a documented timeline: a theoretical risk flagged privately, then a public statement that did not mention it. That sequence is the core of Republican senators' allegations that officials withheld information.

• Murthy said in the chain that a WHO statement advising against the Moderna vaccine for pregnant women could be 'quite damaging to public confidence.'

How 49 sources split on this story

Where they split: The coverage — all from right-leaning outlets — frames the texts as proof of deliberate concealment; no left or center outlets have yet reported on the story, leaving Fauci's characterization of his own statements unrepresented.

What’s next: Johnson says investigators cannot yet confirm whether data was deleted from the phone.

• The Senate Homeland Security Committee received the phone last week; more messages are expected to be released.
• Did Fauci or other officials share the cytokine-storm concern through any non-public clinical or regulatory channels at the time?
• What do the remaining 34,000-plus texts and 522 voicemails contain, and has any data been deleted?
• What is Fauci's current response to the released texts?