Trump Calls J&J Pause 'Stupid,' Tells His Followers To Get Vaccinated

Former President Donald Trump has encouraged U.S. citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and criticized the Biden administration for pausing the Johnson & Johnson treatment.

Mr. Trump confirmed in an hour-long interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity on Monday that he already received his COVID-19 vaccine.

When asked by Hannity if he would advise other Americans to do the same, the former president said he would advise his supporters to do so because he "believes."

Trump also expressed his confusion as to why people were afraid to take the shot.

"I don't know what that is exactly, Republican, I don't know what it is," he said.

He continued to say that drug makers "all want me to do a commercial because a lot of our people don't want to take the vaccine." But after the F.D.A. paused the Johnson & Johnson vaccine's rollout last week, he was caught off guard.

"I call them and I say 'let me ask you a question. You just did something, six people, out of eight million people. Somebody said that Tylenol, women's birth control [causes] far more,'" Mr. Trump said on Monday.

He referred to the FDA-approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Authorities halted the rollout after six people out of 6.8 million who received it reported blood clots, one of whom died.

Following the pause, experts pointed out that other drugs have a far greater risk of causing blood clots. Data from the CDC shows that healthcare workers administered less than 8 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses in the U.S. Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccinations have provided the bulk of inoculations.

In his first televised sit-down interview since leaving office in January, Trump said about the pause that what FDA did with Johnson & Johnson is "so stupid."

"That's the worst thing you could have done from a public relations standpoint," Mr. Trump said. He added that the decision could probably even affects the other vaccines a way.

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC's This Week that he doesn't think the delay will last much longer. He said they should have a conclusion as to where they're going with the pause by Friday.

“I would think that we’re not going to go beyond Friday in the extension of this pause.” Fauci added.