Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul lambasted Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday for causing “hysteria” over the Omicron variant without basing it on science.

Paul appeared Wednesday on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” where he commented on the recent scientific findings of the mildness of symptoms among patients who contracted the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

“This shouldn’t surprise any of us,” the senator said. “Dr. Fauci routinely ignores the science, causes hysteria, and creates fear. This is the opposite of what you really want as far as someone leading your public health effort [is concerned].”