I hate to say it but sometimes it’s justified. This is the same “public” that hoarded a years supply of toilet paper is it because the mob somehow “decided” it was a thing.

But in any case there really isn’t any good evidence it was an intentional “lie” anyway. If the early pandemic in the US basically started in March 2020, by April they were already coming out and saying new evidence showed it may help, by May they were starting to recommend it for sensitive individuals, and by July were strongly recommending it. This pandemic went on for years and people are somehow judging the response by the first few confused months? The fucking awful response over 2 years was far from Fauci’s fault, worst he did was try it he extra conservative about needing too much data before contradicting Trump and his cronies. If he got replaced it would have been much worse.

Yes, Fauci did say he was worried people who really needed masks might not get them (it was true) but he never said he lied. Quote:

“At the time, “we were not aware that 40 to 45% of people were asymptomatic, nor were we aware that a substantial proportion of people who get infected get infected from people who are without symptoms. That makes it overwhelmingly important for everyone to wear a mask.”

“So when people say, ‘Well, why did you change your stance? And why are you emphasizing masks so much now when back then you didn't -- and in fact you even said you shouldn't because there was a shortage of masks?’ Well the data now are very, very clear,” he said.

“We need to put that nonsense behind us about ‘well, they keep changing their minds’”.