Dr. Anthony Fauci’s appearance before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee continues to generate scrutiny, with critics pointing not only to his repeated invocation of the Fifth Amendment but also to what some believe his demeanor revealed throughout the hearing.
Among those weighing in was body language expert Dr. Lillian Glass, who told the New York Post that Fauci’s physical reactions suggested he was under significant stress during questioning.
The hearing itself was already contentious before senators began asking substantive questions. In his opening statement, Fauci accused Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican and longtime critic, of targeting him personally. Over the course of the hearing, according to The Hill, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 111 times rather than answer questions from lawmakers.
Glass argued that Fauci’s posture and physical movements changed noticeably as the questioning intensified.
“When he was asked poignant questions, his autonomic nervous system took over, and he became flushed, his breathing changed, hunched over, paler, squirmed around, blinked a lot [and] licked his lips — all signals of deception,” Glass told the Post.
Body language analysis is inherently subjective and does not establish whether someone is telling the truth or being deceptive. Nevertheless, Glass maintained that Fauci’s appearance shifted throughout the hearing, describing him as moving from an initially confident and even arrogant posture to one she characterized as guarded and weakened.
One of the most confrontational exchanges came during questioning by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.
Hawley criticized Fauci’s use of taxpayer funds, accused him of pursuing personal recognition, and at one point asked routine questions—including the day of the week and the color of Fauci’s tie—that also received Fifth Amendment responses.
Glass said Fauci appeared increasingly uncomfortable during that exchange.
“During Senator Hawley’s questioning, Dr. Fauci’s shoulders rose again, and he squirmed visibly,” she said. “His face became red. His voice weakened further and sounded increasingly shaky. He appeared emotionally strained and at moments looked as though he might cry.”
Hawley concluded his remarks with a lengthy rebuke, arguing that Fauci’s public service had become overshadowed by personal ambition.
“Silence is admission,” Hawley said, according to his Senate website. “And here’s the real thing: at the end of the day, it wasn’t just about the money, really, was it? It was really about a power trip.”
He continued by accusing Fauci of seeking celebrity, awards, and media attention before concluding that Fauci had become “a narcissist and a megalomaniac and a liar” who had damaged both public trust and the scientific community.
Another exchange Glass highlighted involved Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio.
According to her observations, Fauci again displayed signs of discomfort.
“During Senator Moreno’s questioning, Dr. Fauci’s face became flushed and red,” Glass said.
“He looked downward and appeared unable or unwilling to look directly at the people behind him. He swallowed hard, continued manipulating his pen, and squirmed more noticeably in his chair.”
She added that his breathing appeared heavier and that his voice became progressively softer, making him increasingly difficult to hear.
Moreno argued that Fauci viewed himself as beyond accountability.
“Clearly, what you think today is that somehow you’re above reproach,” the senator said, according to his office.
Glass also noted a contrast in Fauci’s demeanor depending on who was speaking. She said he appeared upright and confident at the start of the hearing but became noticeably more defensive after accusing Paul of making slanderous statements and releasing his personal diary in an effort to embarrass him.
Conversely, she observed that Fauci appeared calmer when lawmakers defended him or when the questioning became less confrontational. According to Glass, his posture relaxed, his breathing steadied, and the visible signs of tension diminished.
