Following President Biden's call for "door-to-door" vaccine advocacy, Fox News and other right-leaning media outlets appear to be ramping up anti-vax rhetoric focused on two competing ideas — (1) vaccinations are dangerous, overhyped and shouldn't be required or even encouraged, but (2) they're an important and unrecognized accomplishment of former President Donald Trump, Media Matters reported on Thursday.
On Wednesday, conservative activist Charlie Kirk likened vaccination guidelines to apartheid in an interview with Tucker Carlson, saying inoculation requirements resemble an "apartheid-style, open-air hostage situation."
Fellow right-wing activist and commentator Candace Owens echoed that mentality on Twitter, emphasizing her family's right to abstain from the COVID-19 shot.
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.
Even though Owens and other influential figures have voiced what is a consistently prevalent argument among vaccine skeptics, Newsmax contributor Mark Halperin wants to make sure Trump receives the recognition he deserves for helping develop the vaccine. "President Trump doesn't get nearly enough credit for what he did to unshackle the administration and the regulation and allowed these private-sector companies to go forward," he said.
Perfectly illustrating these conflicting complaints, Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade said Thursday that "the focus of this administration on vaccination is mind boggling," adding that Americans are now being "berated" by Dr. Anthony Fauci.
But Kilmeade, much like Halperin, also wanted to "underline the fact that this vaccine was driven by the Trump administration ... As much as [the Biden administration wants] you vaccinated, they are determined not to let you know who came up with it."
Co-host Pete Hegseth then "cued up a video clip from [Laura Ingraham's] show the night before, in which a guest claimed that 'no one under the age of 30' should get the vaccines," Media Matters writes. Read more at Media Matters.
-
How will the new Repayment Assistance Plan for student loans work?the explainer The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace existing income-driven repayment plans
-
In the Spotlight Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been at odds with US forces
-
Music reviews: Ethel Cain, Amaarae, and The Black KeysFeature "Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You," "Black Star," and "No Rain, No Flowers"
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutionalSpeed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for riflesSpeed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBISpeed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summitSpeed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'
-
DC protests as Trump deployment ramps upSpeed Read Trump's 'crusade against crime' is targeting immigrants and the homeless
-
Ukraine, European leaders to meet Trump after Putin talksSpeed Read Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week
-
Border agents crash Newsom redistricting kickoffSpeed Read Armed federal Border Patrol agents amassed outside the venue where the California governor and other Democratic leaders were gathered
-
Man charged for hoagie attack as DC fights takeoverSpeed Read The Trump administration filed felony charges against a man who threw a Subway sandwich at a federal agent
