Trump made Fauci a household name. In Washington DC and other liberal enclaves, there were “Thank you, Dr. Fauci” political yard signs. That NEVER happens without Trump pushing him to the forefront of the COVID information stream every day.
Your beef is with Pence and the rest of the swamp. If this wasn't led by Fauci, it would have been led by some other 'I am the science' type. Our institutions are filled to the brim with those types. That's not even arguable.
This forum is full of people with outstanding hindsight. Some even consider themselves 'experts' and no doubt would have breezed through that whole charade better than Trump.