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This is why people are annoyed at Melania and Trump's secret vaccination

Photo credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS - Getty Images
Photo credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS - Getty Images

From Cosmopolitan

After a controversial four years in office (which saw him impeached twice, banned from Twitter and accused of inciting a violent riot at the Capitol), news has broken that Donald and Melania Trump quietly received a COVID-19 vaccination before departing the White House.

As you might imagine, not everybody is overjoyed with this news – nor the fact that it was kept quiet until now – as during his time as President of the United States, Trump was repeatedly accused of trying to downplay the severity of the virus. He also, now quite infamously, suggested scientists look into bleach as a cure for COVID-19, not long before being hospitalised with coronavirus himself.

However, according to independent fact-checking sites, (despite strong rumours to the contrary) Trump did not call the virus a "hoax" at any point.

The news that Trump and Melania had both received the vaccine was confirmed by a Trump advisor to American news outlet, CNN, and the former President himself displayed an evident change of tune during a recent conference in Florida – during which he didn't rule out attempting to run for the top job again in future. "How unpainful that vaccine shot is," he remarked. "So everybody go get your shot!"

In the past, Trump has been accused of not doing enough to encourage social distancing or wearing protective face coverings, and it's reported that white Republicans are one of the largest groups to say they're unsure about receiving a vaccine.

Photo credit: Tasos Katopodis - Getty Images
Photo credit: Tasos Katopodis - Getty Images

Another reason why people are peeved at the news that the Trumps were vaccinated is that unlike other leaders, such as Joe Biden, they did not publicise that they'd received a vaccine, in the hopes of encouraging others to step forwards and do the same (as well as dispelling fears around being vaccinated).

As you'll likely have come to expect, Twitter has stepped up to the plate to chime in on vaccine-gate. Clean water campaigner Erin Brockovich (yes, that one) said, "Trump got the vaccine but didn't want you to know. He didn't want you to believe it was safe. His persona is more important to him than your life. It's all an act."

Judd Legum, a lawyer and political correspondent, said it was inconsistent that Trump would wish to receive a vaccine after declaring himself "immune" having already contracted the disease (research into whether or not you can re-catch, or spread, COVID after having had it is still ongoing):

Trump hasn't publicly commented on the backlash as yet.

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