Donald Trump defends Covid boosters, blasts ‘gutless’ politicians who won’t reveal their vaccine status

Former US president Donald Trump has blasted politicians from his own side for refusing to reveal a simple piece of information.

Former US President Donald Trump has vigorously defended the Covid booster shots once again, and accused some of his fellow politicians of being “gutless” for refusing to tell the public whether they’ve received one.

In an interview with One America News host Dan Ball this week, Mr Trump claimed “people aren’t dying when they take the vaccine”, echoing comments made in a recent interview with Daily Wire host Candace Owen.

“The vaccine is one of the greatest achievements of mankind,” Mr Trump said, claiming responsibility for the speedy rollout of the inoculations.

“I came up with a vaccine, with three vaccines,” Trump said.

“All are very, very good. Came up with three of them in less than nine months. It was supposed to take 5-12 years.”

Ball referenced the database of adverse effects in the US as a result of the jabs, asking the former president if he had ever reconsidered his stance on promoting vaccinations despite the issue remaining a contentious point in American politics.

“Now after so many months of the vaccine being administered and these side effects, and Americans’ questions [sic] of it, do you reconsider your push for it? Or what’s your view on the vaccine in general?” Ball asked.

“Well, I’ve taken it,” Mr Trump replied.

“I’ve had the booster. Many politicians – I watched a couple of politicians be interviewed and one of the questions was, ‘Did you get the booster?’ – because they had the vaccine – and they’re answering like – in other words, the answer is ‘yes’ but they don’t want to say it.

“Because they’re gutless. You gotta say it – whether you had it or not. Say it. But the fact is that I think the vaccines saved tens of millions throughout the world. I’ve had absolutely no side effects.”

Former US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his vaccine stance, accusing fellow Republicans of being “gutless” for refusing tell the public if they had received their booster.

Mr Trump, 75, made similar comments in the Owens interview, saying he truly believes the current vaccines greatly reduce a person’s chances of being hospitalised or dying from Covid.

“If they get it, they’re not going to hospitals for the most part and dying,” Mr Trump said. “Before it was a horror. and now they’re not.”

Pundits in the US believe Trump’s comments were directed at potential GOP presidential candidate Ron Desantis, who has been far less enthusiastic about promoting vaccines than the New York billionaire.

DeSantis reportedly received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine last year, but didn’t get into the topic of boosters when probed during an interview with Fox News in December.

US press has probed DeSantis’ camp for further information on his vaccine stance despite him repeatedly stating he believes the topic should remain private.

“I‘ve done whatever I did, the normal shot, and that at the end of the day it’s people’s individual decisions about what they want to do,” Mr DeSantis said.

US press has probed Mr DeSantis’ camp for further information on his vaccine stance despite him repeatedly stating he believes the topic should remain private and is down to the individuals’ personal choice.

“I am not privy to the Governor’s private medical decisions and am unable to share information about his booster status,” spokeswoman Christina Pushaw told Politico.

“Governor DeSantis has consistently said that vaccination (and by extension, boosters) should be a personal choice, and anyone who has questions or concerns should consult with a healthcare provider.”

Originally published as Donald Trump defends Covid boosters, blasts ‘gutless’ politicians who won’t reveal their vaccine status