Trust is a behavior, not a credential – and that explains the Rodgers-Fauci divide

In August 2026, football star Aaron Rodgers called Dr. Anthony Fauci a 'coward' and a 'criminal' on his podcast, after Fauci pleaded the Fifth at a congressional hearing on pandemic policy. The insults made headlines, but the deeper question is why a player's words carry so much weight.

Trust is a behavior, not a score

Researchers say trust isn't an attitude you measure with a survey question like 'how much do you trust scientists?' It's the willingness to make yourself vulnerable to someone – say, by following a doctor's advice. Watching what people actually do matters more than what they say.

Every time you drive, you're trusting automakers, mechanics, and traffic cops. Every time you weigh an economist's advice, you're trusting them. Trust is giving someone power over you – an action, not a rating.

Expertise alone isn't enough – people need to feel you're on their side

People trust someone not just for knowing things, but for seeming benevolent and honest. Experts can be so focused on showing expertise that they forget to show they care; or they talk about caring but don't prove they're truthful.

Take a health department that holds listening sessions but never explains why it's doing them or who benefits – locals see a checkbox exercise, not genuine concern. Trustworthiness is earned, not conferred by a title.

Experts need to show up regularly, not wait to be asked

Experts are busy and rarely on camera, while influencers and athletes spend hours with their audiences, coming across as relatable and sincere. Fauci recited constitutional amendments at a hearing; Rodgers chats on a podcast – we know who seems more trustworthy.

So experts can't stay aloof. They need to seize every chance to show goodwill and integrity, banking trust before a crisis hits. By the time Fauci faced the hearing, people had already made up their minds.