Comedian and talk show host Bill Maher sharply criticized former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci during the August 1, 2026, episode of HBO's "Real Time." Maher accused Fauci of telling "actual lies" about the origins of COVID-19, the virus responsible for over seven million confirmed deaths worldwide.

Maher's comments came days after Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 111 times during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on July 29, 2026, regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"He was caught in actual lies," Maher said, emphasizing the importance of understanding how the virus originated. Maher pointed out that Fauci initially told people the virus came from wet markets and dismissed the lab leak theory as a conspiracy, despite diary entries showing Fauci privately acknowledged it as a viable debate.

"Because we have him in his diary telling us what he was saying to other scientists, who were saying, ‘No, absolutely,’" Maher noted. He added, "I would always have said, don't do it, but it's a viable debate."

The Senate hearing, held in Washington, D.C., included notable moments such as Fauci's refusal to answer questions by invoking his constitutional rights and heated exchanges among committee members. The hearing has sparked ongoing discussions about the transparency and handling of the pandemic's origins.

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