'You gotta say it': Trump goes after the 'gutless' politicians who withhold their booster status


Former President Donald Trump doesn't think very highly of politicians who refuse to admit they've received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, it seems.
During an interview with the far-right One America News Network that aired Tuesday, Trump described politicos who dodge questions about their booster status as "gutless," Mediaite reports.
When asked by OAN host Dan Ball if he has reconsidered his recent positive vaccine rhetoric, as well his "view on the vaccine in general," Trump replied, "Well, I've taken it."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I've had the booster," he said. "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," Trump went on. "Say it. But the fact is that I think the vaccine has saved tens of millions throughout the world. I have had absolutely no side effects."
The ex-president also noted those who have received the vaccine are less likely to be hospitalized or die from the virus.
"If they get it, they're not going to hospitals for the most part and dying," he said. "Before it was a horror, and now they're not." The president did, however, say he doesn't think "young, healthy people" should get the shot.
Trump's politician remarks may have also been directed at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), writes NBC News , who is sometimes viewed as a "Trump 2.0," and considered a possible presidential contender for 2024. DeSantis has so far refused to directly answer questions about his booster status, per NBC News.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
'"Andor" examines all sides of how empires operate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eatery
Speed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Harvard sues Trump over frozen grant money
Speed Read The Trump administration withheld $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts after Harvard rejected its demands
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eatery
Speed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump tariffs place trucking industry in the crosshairs
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the White House barrels ahead with its massive tariff project, American truckers are feeling the heat from a global trade war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Trump stands by Hegseth amid ouster reports
Speed Read The president dismissed reports that he was on the verge of firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a second national security breach
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Corruption: The road to crony capitalism
Feature Trump's tariff pause sent the stock market soaring — was it insider trading?
By The Week US
-
How 'China shock 2.0' will roil global markets
Feature An overflow of Chinese goods is flooding the global market. Tariffs won’t stop it.
By The Week US
-
Retribution: Trump calls for prosecution of critics
Feature Trump targets former officials who spoke out against him, sending a warning to future whistleblowers
By The Week US
-
Hegseth reportedly shared war plans in 2nd group text
Speed Read The defense secretary sent information about an attack in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador's CECOT prison becomes Washington's go-to destination
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Republicans and Democrats alike are clamoring for access to the Trump administration's extrajudicial deportation camp — for very different reasons
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US