Dr. Anthony Fauci was paid between $50-100,000 to participate in a heavily moderated question-and-answer session at the University of Illinois at Chicago Tuesday afternoon.
Members of UIC Young Americans for Freedom and reporters from Young America’s Foundation’s New Guard attended the event to provide coverage.
Upon entering the venue, cardboard cutouts of the controversial health administrator were scattered throughout a hallway, and selfie-taking attendees were told they can hug, or even kiss the Fauci replicas, if they so desire. So much for preventing the spread of germs.
Inside the auditorium, the majority of audience members appeared to be members of the local community, as opposed to traditional college-age students. The room was just over half full.
Fauci engaged in a roughly 45-minute conversation with Marie Lynn Miranda, the chancellor of UIC, who kicked off the event by calling him her “personal hero.” Miranda spent part of the time asking questions on behalf of audience members, which had to be submitted an entire week ahead for approval by Fauci’s publicists.
When asked if he would have changed anything about his response to the COVID pandemic, Fauci said that he would have made some adjustments had he known what he knows today. However, he emphasized that he thinks he did a “great job,” and that “when scientists change their recommendations, that’s not flip-flopping, that’s what science is.”
He also suggested that local health departments need to be much better prepared for the next pandemic, dubbed “Disease X.” He took a moment to praise Lori Lightfoot, the disgraced former mayor of Chicago who was in attendance, for her “excellent leadership.” She received a standing ovation.
YAFers submitted questions regarding his funding of gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute, his constantly changing directives, and the many negative impacts of his policies, but none were selected.
Throughout the event, multiple pro-Hamas radicals caused disturbances. They were swiftly removed and released by the UIC Police Department to start a protest on the sidewalks outside.
“The many disruptions go to show that no matter how much someone tries to appeal to leftists, they will always find something to complain about,” Jerwyn Castillo, chairman of UIC YAF, told the New Guard.
Young America’s Foundation has submitted a public records request to determine the exact amount of Fauci’s compensation, and it may take some time to hear back. However, it has been widely reported that the former health administrator’s speaking fee falls somewhere within the range of $50-100,000.
Despite the millions of Americans who faced years of educational, professional, social, and financial devastation due to his stringent measures, Fauci is shamelessly cashing in on COVID at the expense of the college students whose high school years he ruined.
