Why did Jen Psaki not credit Trump for Covid-19 vaccine? Press secy says 'Biden has applauded medical experts'
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki refused to credit the Trump administration for the work done on the Covid-19 vaccination on Friday, March 12. In addition, she added President Joe Biden wasn't the best person to convince 'hardcore' pro-Trump supporters to get inoculated. During Friday's briefing, Psaki was constantly questioned about the work of former President Donald Trump and Operation Warp Speed on the ravaging pandemic. She was also pressed on why there wasn't more outreach to those who were hesitant to get their vaccine.
"Let me try this again," she said, the tone of which Daily Mail described as exasperated. 'The president has spoken to it in the past. He has applauded the work of medical experts and scientists and the prior administration,' she said. This comes after conservatives expressed their anger when President Biden didn't mention the Trump administration or Operation Warp Speed's work in developing the vaccine for Covid-19 during his primetime address.
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According to Psaki, the point of the address by Biden was to provide the citizens of the US, a glimpse of his administration — "She argued the 'purpose' of Biden's prime time address was to talk about his own administration - 'what he has done since he took office, the progress that's been made, what the work is ahead, provide a light at the end of the tunnel and ask Americans to engage in the process." She also defended Biden saying he had praised the work of scientists during Trump's time as President.
When a reporter asked: "Why not just say, with credit to the previous administration and the former president for putting us in this position, we are glad that we have been able to move it forward?' "Psaki dismissed the question as an "excellent recommendation as a speechwriter." In addition, she also spoke of the Trump supporters: "I don't think they're worrying too much about applause from six months ago," she said.
During his Thursday address, Biden noted that his administration was responsible for the collaboration of Johnson & Johnson and Merck, to speed up the vaccine manufacturing of the former's one-shot vaccine. He also urged the Americans for their support: "While it was different for everyone, we all lost something -- a collective suffering, a collective sacrifice, a year filled with the loss of life and the loss of living for all of us," he said.
"But in the loss, we saw how much there was to gain in appreciation, respect, and gratitude. Finding light in the darkness is a very American thing to do."
Earlier, Biden and many of the medical experts shared their critical thoughts of Trump not wearing a face mask during his public outings and also for calling Covid-19 the 'China Virus.' The New York Times, in an article, earlier this week, said: 'Both administrations deserve credit, although neither wants to grant much to the other.'