Trump: I ‘Don’t Know’ Why Republicans Are Vaccine Hesitant, Again Floats Pfizer Conspiracy Theory
Topline
Former President Donald Trump on Monday encouraged his supporters to get vaccinated but said he did not understand why Republicans were more skeptical of the shot—even as he again floated a conspiracy theory about Pfizer.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) … [+]
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Key Facts
In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Monday night, Trump said he had been asked to do a public service announcement because a lot of his supporters “don’t want to take the vaccine.”
Data shows Republicans have the highest rate of vaccine skepticism of any major demographic group in the U.S., with 45% stating they do not plan on getting inoculated in a recent Quinnipiac survey.
Trump—who previously expressed skepticism about vaccines in general—said he doesn’t know why Republicans are hesitant to get inoculated, saying “I don’t know what that is exactly.”
“I encourage people to take it, I do,” Trump said of Covid-19 vaccines, adding that he was immunized.
Blasting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause as “stupid,” Trump again pushed an unfounded conspiracy theory that U.S. health agencies halted the rollout to benefit Pfizer, claiming the pharmaceutical company was “in with the FDA.”
Key Background
Trump was noticeably missing from a vaccine public service announcement released in March featuring former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, and former First Ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Rosalynn Carter. Trump spokesperson Jason Miller claims Trump was not invited to the shoot, which was filmed by the Ad Council. A spokesperson for the Ad Council told Reuters last month Trump was not featured because the commercial was shot at Biden’s inauguration ceremony, which Trump did not attend. Monday was just the third time Trump has publicly advocated for Americans to get vaccinated: he, in passing, urged his supporters to get the shot at a Conservative Political Action Conference speech in February, and said he’d “recommend” the “safe vaccine” during a separate Fox News interview in March. Trump has yet to film a vaccine PSA, despite calls to do so.
Tangent
This is the second time Trump has floated the Pfizer conspiracy theory, without providing evidence. After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a joint statement last week urging states to halt their rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Trump blasted Biden for the pause, calling it a “terrible disservice.” Trump then claimed the pause was recommended for political reasons or the “FDA’s love for Pfizer.” The former president’s distaste for the FDA and Pfizer dates back to last November, when he suggested the health agency had purposefully delayed releasing positive news about the Pfizer vaccine until after the election.
Further Reading
Trump Has Yet To Film Vaccine PSA Despite Republicans’ Shot Hesitancy (Forbes)
Here’s Why Republicans Say Fauci Is Increasing Vaccine Hesitancy (Forbes)
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