President Trump on Thursday hailed the successful development of COVID-19 vaccines as a “Christmas miracle” that will end the deadly pandemic.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump have one recorded holiday message from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where they spend the vacation.
Trump said the day marks “the greatest miracle in human history: more than 2,000 years ago, God sent His only begotten son to be with us.”
“At Christmas, we thank God for sending us his son to bring peace to our souls and joy to the world,” the president said.
The recently approved COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna will help return life to normal, Trump said.
“We are delivering millions of doses of a safe and effective vaccine that will soon end this terrible pandemic and save millions upon millions of lives,” Trump said.
“We are grateful to all scientists, researchers, production staff and service staff who have worked tirelessly to make this breakthrough possible. It is truly a Christmas wonder. “
Since March, the virus has infected more than 18.5 million Americans and killed more than 327,000 people, causing significant economic, educational, and social disruption. Vaccine dose distribution began this month after Food and Drug Administration approval.
Trump was not directly referring to a fight in Washington over a $ 2.3 trillion COVID-19 emergency relief and government funding bill passed by both houses of Congress on Monday.
Trump said on Tuesday that he opposes the bill’s billions in foreign aid and demanded that the $ 600 stimulus checks be raised to $ 2,000. If Trump doesn’t sign the existing bill, an estimated 12 million people will lose unemployment benefits the day after Christmas. The deadlock could lead to a partial shutdown of the government next week.