Trump assures supporters that COVID vaccine is safe, urges vaccination

After staying largely silent on the COVID vaccine since leaving the White House, former President Donald Trump called into Fox News Primetime on Tuesday where he recommended that his supporters, many of whom are hesitant to get vaccinated, do just that. While there is opposition to the vaccine among many groups, including a small percentage of Democrats, recent polls showed that a large number of Republicans say they will not get vaccinated. This is despite recent reports that Trump and the former First Lady Melania Trump were secretly vaccinated at the White House in January. Trump attempted to quell the apprehension among many of his supporters.

Asked if he would recommend that viewers get the vaccine, Trump replied, “I would. I would recommend it, and I would recommend it to a lot of people that don't want to get it, and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly. But again, we have our freedoms and we have to live by that, and I agree with that also. But it’s a great vaccine. It’s a safe vaccine and it’s something that works.”

Video Transcript

[WHOOSH]

- Would you recommend to our audience that they get the vaccine then?

DONALD TRUMP: I would. I Would recommend it. And I would recommend it to a lot of people that don't want to get it. And a lot of those people voted for me frankly.

KYLIE MAR: Former President Donald Trump called into Fox News primetime Tuesday, where he recommended his supporters, many of whom are hesitant to get the COVID vaccine, do just that. Trump, along with former first Lady Melania, was secretly vaccinated at the White House in January. Some of the vaccine hesitancy may be due in part to some of Trump's most ardent supporters in the media raising questions. And while he acknowledged the right to decide against vaccination, Trump attempted to quell any apprehension.

DONALD TRUMP: Again, we have our freedoms. And we have to live by that. And I agree with that also.

But it's a great vaccine. It's a safe vaccine. And it's something that works.

KYLIE MAR: While Trump was the only living former US President not to appear in a recent ad assuring Americans that the vaccine is safe and urging them to get it as soon as it is available, Trump now echoed that sentiment.

DONALD TRUMP: It works incredibly well, 95%, maybe even more than that. It works incredibly well. And it's really saving our country. And it's saving, frankly, the world.