Trump’s comments touting COVID-19 vaccines spark anger among his loyal supporters

Trump's comments have stoked rare criticism from extreme anti-vaccine activists, many of whom count themselves among his most ardent followers.

Former Republican President Donald Trump’s recent comments touting COVID-19 vaccines as safe and a major achievement of his presidency have roiled extreme anti-vaxers, which include many of his ardent supporters.

After months of a relatively low profile on vaccines and no photos of him getting inoculated, Trump on Dec. 19 told former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly during an event in Dallas that he’d received the booster – eliciting some boos from the audience.

In an interview with right-wing pundit Candace Owens released two days later, Trump pushed back when Owens suggested the shots were not safe.

“Oh no, the vaccine works,” Trump interrupted Owens, who said she was not vaccinated. “The ones that get very sick and go to the hospital are the ones that don’t take the vaccine.”

While in both cases Trump stressed that he is against Democratic President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandates, his comments have stoked rare criticism from anti-vaccine activists and some supporters.

The controversy highlights the balancing act Trump might face in a potential 2024 presidential run: He will have to energize his base, for many of whom opposition to vaccines has become a rallying cry, without repelling moderate suburbanites.

Conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones said on his talk show that by touting the vaccine, Trump was either “completely ignorant” or “one of the most evil men who has ever lived.” He said it was time “to move on” from Trump and also threatened to “dish all the dirt” on the former president.

Radio host Wayne Allyn Root, a staunch Trump supporter, said the former president was “right on everything” except the vaccines, and needed an “intervention.” In a statement to Reuters, Root stressed he would always be a Trump supporter and that by “intervention” he simply meant a chance to convince Trump to “alter” his message.