I saw and heard him say it, so linking to an article that says he didn't won't work. Saying "Get a grip." is just the kind of condescension that ruins your credibility. You don't have facts to back up your claims, just insults and disrespect.

Dr. Fauci exactly said, “There’s no reason to be walking around with a mask. When you’re in the middle of an outbreak, wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better and it might even block a droplet, but it’s not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is. And, often, there are unintended consequences — people keep fiddling with the mask and they keep touching their face.”