Former President Donald Trump was booed by a portion of an audience in Dallas on Sunday when he said he had received a Covid-19 booster shot, according to video of the closed press event that was shared on social media.
via: Complex
“Both the president and I are vaxxed and, uh, did you get the booster?” O’Reilly is seen saying as he turns to Trump, who’s seated on the stage next to him. “Yes,” Trump responded, at which point you can hear pushback from some in the crowd. O’Reilly, who was let go from his Fox News gig amid sexual harassment allegations back in 2017, also confirmed that he too has received the booster.
NEW: During their show in Dallas, President Trump reveals to @BillOReilly he got the vaccine booster shot. pic.twitter.com/fhkOQEeeEQ
— No Spin News (@NoSpinNews) December 20, 2021
As seen in footage shared by O’Reilly’s No Spin News account, Trump responded to the crowd noise by saying the word “don’t” repeatedly. Later, as seen in another clip, he urged his supporters to “take credit” for the vaccine.
“This was going to ravage the country far beyond what it is right now,” Trump said. “Take credit for it, take credit for it. What we’ve done is historic. Don’t let them take it away. Don’t take it away from ourselves. You’re playing right into their hands when you’re sort of like, ‘Oh, the vaccine.’” However, in the same breath, Trump also expressed a lack of support for vaccine mandates.
'You’re playing right into their hands' when you doubt the vaccine, President Trump says. pic.twitter.com/xJc7JTL0cR
— No Spin News (@NoSpinNews) December 20, 2021
In response to the clip, Dr. Anthony Fauci—President Biden’s chief medical adviser whose prior tensions with Trump were well-documented—commended the former POTUS for taking the correct public stance on boosters after previously declining to do so.
“I’m very pleased that he did say that and come out publicly and say that he has been vaccinated and boosted,” Fauci said during an interview with CNN. “But to get booed for saying that just tells you about the extraordinary divisiveness we have going into this public health issue which should be devoid of divisiveness.”
What makes the moment even more notable is that Trump had previously said that he likely wouldn’t get a booster shot. Maggie Haberman asked the former president why he changed his mind, and he had this to say:
2/2 and “millions of lives saved worldwide.”
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 20, 2021
“Must tell the truth,” he replied in a letter. “And very proud to have produced the three vaccines so quickly.”
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 20, 2021
Whether assessments of that divisiveness speak to you personally or not, getting vaccinated and boosted remains an integral aspect of moving forward in the pandemic era, which now counts Omicron as the leading variant here in the States.
If you’ve not yet secured your vaccine, or if you’re already vaccinated and now simply lack a booster dose, click here to swiftly get the ball rolling. The vaccines are indeed safe, effective, and free. And if anyone tries to charge you for the vaccine or any vaccine-related service, here’s a helpful breakdown on how to respond to such scam efforts.
A little too late Mr. Trump, you created these monsters.
