Former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci's latest publication, co-authored with Gregory Folkers in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal, has ignited a firestorm of debate. The paper, titled "HIV/AIDS and COVID-19: Shared Lessons from Two Pandemics," revisits the origins of COVID-19 and critiques the Trump administration's pandemic response, leading to strong reactions online.

Fauci and Folkers reiterate their stance that the virus originated naturally, citing evidence from evolutionary virologists and other scientists pointing to a species jump in Wuhan's Huanan market. This assertion has been met with skepticism, particularly given the ongoing debate surrounding the possibility of a lab leak. The paper notably omits any mention of the lab leak theory.

The publication also criticizes former President Trump's handling of the pandemic, accusing him of downplaying the virus's severity and promoting unproven treatments. Specifically, the paper references Trump's alleged endorsement of bleach injections, a claim previously debunked by fact-checkers like Politifact. This inclusion has drawn sharp rebukes from conservatives, with some labeling it a blatant falsehood.

President Trump with Dr. Anthony Fauci

Dr. Anthony Fauci testifying before a House subcommittee (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Dr. Anthony Fauci testifying before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Several prominent figures have voiced their disapproval on social media, including Steve Guest, Pradeep Shanker, and Jerry Dunleavy, who criticized Fauci's omission of the lab leak theory and the repetition of the debunked bleach claim.

Fox News reached out to the NIH for comment but has not yet received a response.