Trump's GOP approval hits new low as Fauci pleads Fifth amid Senate grilling

Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination today during a contentious Senate hearing. Facing questioning from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led by Senator Rand Paul, Fauci declined to answer questions, citing what he described as Paul's "unhinged" campaign aimed at seeing him imprisoned.

The hearing centered on Republican-led investigations into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly the "lab leak" theory. While President Joe Biden had previously issued Fauci a preemptive pardon, legal experts have noted that this pardon would not extend to false statements made under oath, thereby increasing the stakes of his testimony. Paul and other Republicans have consistently criticized Fauci's handling of the pandemic and his past statements to Congress.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump's approval ratings within the Republican Party have reportedly reached new lows. Recent polls from July 2026 indicate his overall approval rating is in the mid-to-high 30s, with his approval among Republicans around 69-70%. A Pew Research Center survey from earlier this month noted a 34% overall approval, which it described as the lowest of his second term, while another poll reported his "strongly approve" numbers at a new low of 15%.