Critics blast President Biden for getting credit for rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine – and for not thanking former President Trump for initiating Operation Warp Speed, which triggered the shot within a year.
In his first prime-time address Thursday night, Biden praised his government for taking “war feet” when it comes to fighting the virus, assuring that every American will be eligible for a vaccine starting May 1.
Experts like Fox News presenter Sean Hannity targeted Biden for trying to “take credit for everything Donald Trump did with COVID-19,” noting that three vaccines were already in development by the time Biden took office.
“A million vaccines were already being delivered into people’s arms every day when Biden was sworn in, 36 million doses had already been distributed,” said Hannity.
He continued, ‘Joe, do you want unity? Why don’t you just thank Donald Trump? You want us all to get along, you say. No Trump, no vaccine, Joe. Stop trying to take credit for something, honestly you had nothing to do with it. Nothing.”
Ronna McDaniel, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, accused Biden of being “unfair to Americans,” including “about vaccines.”
“He claims Operation Warp Speed never existed,” she tweeted.
Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) also berated Biden for his comment.
“Tonight @POTUS Biden showed no mercy or appreciation for the leadership that led to Operation Warp Speed and the development of a safe and effective vaccine,” Hagerty tweeted
Former New York Congressman Nan Hayworth agreed that Trump deserves all the credit.
“‘MY administration,’ says President Biden over and over,” she tweeted“The ONLY reason he can do some of the things he does for vaccines and vaccinations is Operation Warp Speed. The ONLY President to deserve extraordinary credit here is President TRUMP! “
Conservative commentator Katie Pavlich wrote, “Biden taking credit for the vaccine is just absolutely astonishing, but not surprising.”
On Wednesday, Trump released a statement saying Americans would have waited years for a COVID-19 vaccine if it hadn’t been for it.
“I hope everyone remembers that when they got the COVID-19 vaccine (often called the China virus) that if I wasn’t president, at best you wouldn’t have such a nice ‘shot’ for 5 years. , and probably wouldn’t get it at all, ”Trump said.