Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Trump Hits A New Low By Claiming Vaccine Booster Shots Are Just A 'Money-Making Operation'

Trump Hits A New Low By Claiming Vaccine Booster Shots Are Just A 'Money-Making Operation'
Aul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump has often attempted to take credit for the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination campaign in the United States.

But Trump has consistently chosen politics over science, regularly deriding President Joe Biden and his administration while continuing to downplay the pandemic's severity.


Now, as the White House announced that most Americans will need Covid-19 booster shots eight months after their initial vaccination, the former President is claiming that vaccine booster shots are nothing more than a "money-making operation."

Trump made the claim during an August 18 appearance on Fox Business seen below.


Speaking to host Maria Bartiromo, Trump opined:

"That sounds to me like a money-making operation from Pfizer. Think of the money involved. A booster shot, that's tens of billions of dollars."
"How good of a business is that? If you're a businessman, you say, 'You know what? Let's give them another shot.'"
"You wouldn't think you would need a booster. When these first came out, they were good for life. Then they were good for a year or two."
"And I could see the writing on the wall, you could see the dollar signs in their eyes."

Trump's claim is incorrect.

The decision to announce the necessity for booster shots was based on evolving data that shows signs of waning immunity over time.

These developments mean that fully vaccinated individuals might become more susceptible to mild and moderate disease.

A group of eight officials, including infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stressed this in an official statement:

"Based on our latest assessment, the current protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death could diminish in the months ahead, especially among those who are at higher risk or were vaccinated during the earlier phases of the vaccination rollout."
"For that reason, we conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability."

Beginning September 20, booster shots will be available for people who are eight months out from their last shot. Home residents, health care workers and emergency respondents will likely be initially prioritized.

Those who've received Johnson & Johnson's single-shot vaccine will also likely need boosters, but officials are awaiting more data in the next few weeks before making a formal recommendation.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to fully approve Pfizer's vaccine for distribution in the coming month, likely before the official deadline, which is Labor Day.

Social media users criticized Trump for spreading conspiracy theories and wanting the pandemic to "go on, indefinitely."




Others pointed out Trump would have a different opinion if he had a spot at the table.

While in office he and his family and cronies repeatedly came under fire from ethics watchdog groups who cited evidence of them enriching themselves on the taxpayer's dime.



Meanwhile, still more people pointed out Trump would likely be among the first to get a booster shot the moment they become widely available.

Trump and his wife Melania were vaccinated in secret even as the ex-President continued to downplay the pandemic's severity.




Trump has in the past claimed his administration deserved full credit for vaccine development and distribution.

While in office, Trump announced Operation Warp Speed, the partnership initiated by the federal government to facilitate and accelerate the development, manufacturing and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and medical treatments.

However, Pfizer has not acknowledged Operation Warp Speed. It says it did not work with the Trump administration to develop its Covid-19 vaccine.

Moderna, on the other hand, has confirmed it received funds from the federal government to develop its vaccine.

More from People/donald-trump

Ridley Scott; Denzel Washington
Samir Hussein/WireImage/GettyImages, Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Ridley Scott Disputes Denzel Washington's Claim Same-Sex Kiss In 'Gladiator II' Was Cut

Gladiator II director Ridley Scott denied Denzel Washington's claim of a same-sex kiss in a scene that was cut from the new sequel to 2000's Gladiator.

During a red carpet interview with Variety at the Los Angeles premiere of Gladiator II, Scott called B.S. on Washington's so-called "kiss of death" he mentioned in a previous interview with Gayety’s Caitlynn McDaniel.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Tanya Tsikanovsky and Donald Trump
Fox 11

Lesbian Criticized For Complaining She Lost LGBTQ+ Friends After Voting For Trump

Former Democrat and Los Angeles resident Tanya Tsikanovsky told Fox 11 that she's been ostracized by her friends over her decision to vote for Trump—and the internet doesn't have much sympathy for her.

Tsikanovsky revealed that she wasn’t always a Republican. She voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, even working with Clinton’s campaign in Iowa. At the time, she admitted to having strong disdain for Trump supporters.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jim McGovern; Donald Trump
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

Democratic Rep. Says What We're All Thinking About Trump's 'Beyond Insane' Cabinet Picks

Democratic Massachusetts Representative Jim McGovern gave his blunt assessment of President-elect Donald Trump's bizarre Cabinet picks thus far, calling them "beyond insane."

With Trump recently having picked Matt Gaetz (who faces sex trafficking accusations) for attorney general, Tulsi Gabbard (who has ignited concerns due to her ties to Russia) for director of national intelligence, and Pete Hegseth (a Fox News host accused of sexual assault) for secretary of defense, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (an antivaxxer and conspiracy theorist) for secretary of health and human services, Senate Republicans are very much divided on confirming them.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cynthia Erivo; Dax Shepard
Jeff Spicer/WireImage; Raymond Hall/GC Images

Cynthia Erivo Shuts Down Dax Shepard After He Asks TMI Question About Her Long Nails

Wicked star Cynthia Erivo has made it clear she has little time for people's nonsense—that's one of the things fans love about her.

And the latest to test her patience was podcaster Dax Shepard, who asked Erivo a TMI question that left her bristling a bit even as she took it in stride.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Marjorie Taylor Greene; Donald Trump
Real America's Voice; Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Images

MTG Melts Down In Bonkers Rant Demanding Senate Republicans 'Say Yes Sir' To Trump's Cabinet Picks

As President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks face increasing opposition from Senate Republicans, Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is not handling it all that well, demanding her colleagues "say yes sir" to Trump's every whim.

With Trump recently having picked Matt Gaetz (who faces sex trafficking accusations) for attorney general, Tulsi Gabbard (who has ignited concerns due to her ties to Russia) for director of national intelligence, and Pete Hegseth (a Fox News host accused of sexual assault) for secretary of defense—to say nothing of others who've made headlines for similarly disturbing reasons—Senate Republicans are very much divided.

Keep ReadingShow less