Former President Donald Trump announced on Monday his plan to establish a special presidential commission to investigate the increase in chronic illnesses over the past few decades. In his statement, Trump criticized “Big Pharma” for their role in the rise of chronic illnesses and questioned the public health establishment’s reluctance to address these concerns. His comments were targeted towards vaccine-skeptical Republicans who are more likely to believe vaccine-related misinformation and remain unvaccinated.
Trump highlighted the alarming growth in chronic illnesses, particularly in children, including autism, autoimmune disorders, obesity, infertility, allergies, and respiratory challenges. However, it is important to note that vaccines are not a cause of chronic medical conditions.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump’s major rival for the GOP nomination, has criticized Trump for his support of the COVID vaccine, aiming to appeal to vaccine opponents. Despite his own administration’s efforts through Operation Warp Speed to promote vaccinations, Trump opted to receive the vaccine privately to avoid alienating vaccine skeptics among his supporters.
DeSantis, known for advocating “medical freedom,” has called for an investigation into vaccine safety. A Twitter account associated with DeSantis’ presidential campaign has pointed out Trump’s endorsement of vaccines and cited an interaction where a voter claimed people died because of Trump’s support for vaccines. Trump defended his stance, stating that many Americans view the vaccine as beneficial.
Trump is also facing opposition from Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine opponent who is challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination. Kennedy has been banned from social media platforms due to spreading vaccine misinformation. During Trump’s transition period, there were reports that Trump intended to appoint Kennedy to lead a commission on vaccine safety, but the job and commission never materialized.
While Trump did not explicitly mention vaccines in his video, his intention was clear – to hold “Big Pharma” accountable if they defraud patients or prioritize profits over people.