Former President Donald Trump endorses COVID-19 vaccine during Candace Owens interview

Former President Donald Trump strongly endorsed the COVID-19 vaccine during an interview with Candace Owens that was released Tuesday.

After telling Bill O’Reilly that he received a booster shot, Trump hailed the vaccine as “one of the greatest achievements of mankind.” When Owens claimed that COVID-19 cases have gone up during Biden’s first year in office, Trump pushed back against any skepticism voiced by the conservative media host.

“Oh, no. The vaccine worked,” Trump said. “But some people aren’t taking it. The ones that get very sick and go to the hospital are the ones that don’t take the vaccine.”

While the former president said he disagrees with vaccine mandates for U.S. citizens and said “it’s still their choice” to get vaccinated, he said “if you take the vaccine, you’re protected.”

Trump told Owens he opposes mandates but touted the benefits of the shot. He called it “one of the greatest achievements of mankind.”