Topline
Chelsea Clinton said Thursday that former President Donald Trump should do “the right thing” and release photos of himself getting vaccinated against coronavirus, which, she argued, would encourage Republicans, who are disproportionately hesitant to be immunized, to get the shot.
“I said last year, even before we had any vaccines that had received emergency use authorization, … [+] that I hoped President Trump and his whole family would be out in front getting vaccinated when it was their turn to do so,” Clinton said on “The View.”
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Key Facts
During an appearance on ABC’s The View, Clinton said, “Given that we know white Republican men are currently the most vaccine-wary,” the release of photos of Trump and his wife receiving their shots would have an outsize impact.
Because the former president “remains the most popular figure for that demographic,” documenting his trust in the vaccine would “make a real difference,” Clinton stated.
She also noted that doing so would help Trump “claim credit for the enormous progress that his administration did help enable through Operation Warp Speed.”
Big Number:
49%. That’s the share of Republicans who said they would refuse to get a Covid vaccine, according to an NPR/PBS/Marist poll released last month.
Key Background:
Last September, Clinton, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, said she blamed Trump for America’s failure to limit the spread of coronavirus. “It’s unconscionable he lied to the American public about Covid, that he’s continued to lie to the American people,” she declared, adding, Trump had “a blatant disregard for public health and the advice from public health experts that’s pretty uniform.” Last month, during an appearance on Fox News, Trump said the vaccines were safe and that he would “recommend” that his supporters get vaccinated. However, he chose not to participate in a national ad campaign that shared images of former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter getting their jabs and promoting the importance of getting vaccinated. Clinton said Thursday that although she wishes Trump joined the PSA, “It’s never too late . . . and although he may not be on Twitter any longer, he certainly seems to always find ways to have his voice heard.”
Crucial Quote:
“I said last year, even before we had any vaccines that had received emergency use authorization, that I hoped President Trump and his whole family would be out in front getting vaccinated when it was their turn to do so,” Clinton said on The View.
Further Reading:
Here Are The Groups Who Don’t Want A Vaccine—And Trump Voters Are Near Top (Forbes)
Chelsea Clinton: ‘Unconscionable’ that Trump ‘lied’ to public about COVID-19 (ABC)
