The nation is currently grappling with vaccine hesitancy in the face of right-wing conspiracy theories that the vaccines—which have been proven safe and effective at slowing the spread of the virus that's killed over 700 thousand Americans—are microchipped, magnetized, or even the "mark of the beast."
Though former President Donald Trump got his vaccine in secret, he's encouraged his supporters to get their shot, crediting his administration with creating the lifesaving vaccines.
And though millions have been vaccinated since the inauguration of President Joe Biden, Trump claimed in a recent interview that people don't want to be vaccinated because they "don't trust Biden."
Watch below.
Trump on vaccines: "During my administration, everybody wanted the vaccine. There was nobody saying 'Oh, gee, I don\u2019t want to take it.' Now they say that and that's because they don\u2019t trust the Biden administration. I can think of no other reason."pic.twitter.com/A8V1jOr2BW— Justin Baragona (@Justin Baragona) 1633657965
Trump told far-right Fox News host Sean Hannity:
"During my administration, everybody wanted the vaccine. There was nobody saying 'Oh, gee, I don't want to take it.' Now they say that and that's because they don't trust the Biden administration. I can think of no other reason. They say 'We don't want it, we aren't gonna take it.' When I was there, everybody wanted it."
In reality, there was widespread vaccine hesitancy when Trump was President, but what's more, the very network Trump delivered the interview has routinely platformed and encouraged vaccine skepticism.
People were amazed at the shamelessness of Trump's claim.
WUT.— S.E. Cupp (@S.E. Cupp) 1633698338
WTF?— Colleen Carroll (@Colleen Carroll) 1633701477
pic.twitter.com/xtsIDNDlbO— A10, your friendly neighborhood scientist (@A10, your friendly neighborhood scientist) 1633658384
Fight it with facts! The vaccine was not available to the public during his reign. Disenguoius is their MO. Just gross— Brandi (@Brandi) 1633659549
Still an idiot— Nancy Duncan (@Nancy Duncan) 1633659282
They were quick to call out the hypocrisy.
Trump can\u2019t think of another reason? Ohh I don\u2019t know, how about the right wing\u2019s relentless campaign (perpetuated by Facebook) vilifying health officials and discrediting the vaccine with lies and disinformation?— April (@April) 1633676658
Nothing to do with the fact Fox sews doubt about the vaccine EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. Nope can\u2019t be that.— Prudent Democrat (@Prudent Democrat) 1633699368
Well just ask Sean and the KKK Carlson next door, oh gee what could be the reason!— Ghi\u2019s World (@Ghi\u2019s World) 1633660540
Saying such a thing on a network peddling antivax propaganda while the staff are vaccinated.— tellthetruth (@tellthetruth) 1633658121
Vaccine disinformation continues to circulate in right-wing media spheres.
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