CNN anchor Brianna Keilar has earned widespread notoriety for her meticulous critiques of right-wing disinformation, usually broadcast from the conservative Fox News networks to millions of viewers.
Keilar recently targeted far-right Fox host Sean Hannity and his recent interview with former President Donald Trump.
Throughout the interview, Trump recycled his all too familiar talking points, such as decrying both of his impeachments—each of which had more bipartisan support than any Presidential impeachment in history—and teasing a potential 2024 presidential run.
Keilar slammed the "propaganda hour" as a "mean girl group chat" between Trump and Hannity, but noted one silver lining.
Watch below.
Keilar said:
"If there is anything newsworthy from this mean girl group chat, it is Donald Trump telling his skeptical supporters, whose vaccine hesitancy may prevent the U.S. from reaching herd immunity in the non-mass casualty way, to get vaccinated."
Forty-one percent of Republicans say they have no intention of taking the vaccine for the viral pathogen that's killed nearly 600 thousand Americans. Far-right media personalities like Fox host Tucker Carlson have embraced conspiracy theories regarding the vaccine's efficacy.
Trump privately took the vaccine back in January, and it wasn't public knowledge until March. During the Hannity interview, Trump said he'd been asked to do a commercial endorsing the vaccine beyond encouraging his supporters to take it in interviews, but expressed reluctance to do so.
Without at least 70 percent of Americans fully vaccinated, the virus has the momentum to keep spreading, mutating along the way into more abrasive variants. If this is allowed to continue, the vaccine will inevitably evolve into a strain that renders the previously delivered vaccines ineffective.
Like Keilar, people hoped Trump's followers would listen to his words.
Vaccine conspiracy theorists still weren't convinced—and some even bizarrely believed Trump was secretly denouncing the vaccine.
that he was full of it (with all due Respect).
There's a reason. I tweet about it a few days ago.
The important thing is to notice and pay attention to what he says. There are clues hidden. He didn't get the vaccine. He wants you to think for yourself as well.
I believe this >>>
— 💫 Post Apocalyptic Queen of 1️⃣7️⃣🥃❤️🇺🇲✝️ (@AreYouAwaQe) April 20, 2021
is part of a test for us all. He's saving the WORLD and doesn't want to hand it over to have this happen all over again which is partially why I'm so adamant about people taking action and SHOWING HIM we deserve this Awakening and to be present during it.
Other countries >>>
— 💫 Post Apocalyptic Queen of 1️⃣7️⃣🥃❤️🇺🇲✝️ (@AreYouAwaQe) April 20, 2021
Trump had the opportunity as President to publicly take the vaccine, but decided to do it quietly instead. Now, his vaccine-hesitant followers may be too far gone.
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