Biden offers rare praise of Trump during Covid speech
“I got my booster shot as soon as they were available,” Biden said during a speech from the White House about his administration’s efforts to address the Omicron variant of Covid-19, adding, “and just the other day former President Trump announced he had gotten his booster shot.”
“It may be one of the few things he and I agree on,” Biden continued. “People with booster shots are highly protected. Join them. Join us.”
Unvaccinated people face a 10 times greater risk of testing positive and 20 times greater risk of dying from Covid-19 than fully vaccinated people who have also received a booster, according to data published recently by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During Tuesday’s speech, Biden also praised the Trump administration for its efforts to develop a Covid-19 vaccine before he took office.
“Let me be clear. Thanks to the prior administration and our scientific community, America was one of the first countries to get the vaccine,” Biden said. “Thanks to my administration and the hard work of Americans, we led a roll out, made America among the world leaders in getting shots in arms.”
According to video tweeted by O’Reilly’s “No Spin News,” the former Fox News host said, “Both the President and I are vaxxed,” and then asks Trump, “Did you get the booster?”
“Yes,” Trump said to a smattering of boos in the audience.
“Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t,” Trump said, appearing to try to quiet the boos. “That’s all right. It’s a very tiny group over there.”
Trump has long championed his administration’s efforts to develop Covid vaccines, but he rarely discusses his vaccination status and has largely declined to encourage others to get it.
“I’ll look at stuff later on,” he added. “I’m not against it, but it’s probably not for me.”
In a longer video later tweeted by O’Reilly’s site, Trump warned supporters that they are “playing right into their hands” when they dismiss the vaccines and don’t take credit for their development during his administration.
“Look, we did something that was historic. We saved tens of millions of lives worldwide. We — together. All of us, not me,” Trump said in the video, which comes right before Trump receives the smattering of boos.
Trump went on to say in the video that Covid-19 was going to “ravage the country far beyond what it is right now” if the vaccines had not been developed. But the former President also criticized vaccine mandates.
“If you don’t want to take it, you shouldn’t be forced to take it. No mandates. But take credit, because we saved tens of millions of lives. Take credit. Don’t let them take that away from you,” Trump said.
Trump, who contracted Covid while serving office, received his first vaccination…
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