Trump Endorses Polio Vaccine Amidst Media Critique, Stays Noncommittal on Others

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump affirmed his commitment to maintaining the availability of the polio vaccine during his upcoming term. However, he stopped short of guaranteeing the same for other vaccines, suggesting that his administration would carefully assess vaccine safety, a process already undertaken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before approval.

During a recent press conference, Trump alluded to plans to privatize the Postal Service while also announcing intentions to file a lawsuit against a recent presidential poll from The Des Moines Register, which indicated he was trailing Vice President Kamala Harris in the election’s final days.

Trump, set to take office on January 20, expressed ambitions to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and Russia, as well as to improve the situation in the Middle East, although he provided few specifics on how he intends to accomplish these goals.

“Starting on day one, we’ll implement bold reforms to restore prosperity,” Trump stated, envisioning a return to an economic peak experienced in the past. He also discussed his expectation that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom he intends to nominate for the Department of Health and Human Services, will be “much less radical” than anticipated regarding vaccine policies.

Kennedy has a controversial history of spreading misinformation about vaccine safety, raising concerns about his nomination’s viability in gaining U.S. Senate confirmation. Trump mentioned that Kennedy and his administration would produce reports on vaccine perspectives but did not elaborate on potential subsequent actions.

While Trump expressed opposition to vaccine mandates, he did not indicate that he would revise the existing vaccine policies for federal entities, including the Defense Department, which has various vaccination requirements.

The president-elect indicated an interest in understanding rising autism rates, despite extensive research dismissing any correlation between vaccines and autism. He also noted aspirations to lower healthcare and prescription drug costs but provided no details on how he might achieve this.

On the legal front, Trump emphasized his intent to pursue multiple lawsuits against media organizations and individuals he believes have wronged him. This declaration follows a recent settlement with ABC News, where the network agreed to pay $15 million regarding misleading statements about his legal issues.

Among the lawsuits Trump plans to file are actions against pollster J. Ann Selzer and the CBS program “60 Minutes.” He contended that Selzer’s Iowa poll, which inaccurately predicted Harris’s lead over him, represented election interference.

In statements regarding international conflicts, Trump praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the Israel-Gaza situation and expressed confidence that his administration could facilitate improvements in the Middle East. However, he acknowledged that addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict poses a greater challenge.

Furthermore, he commented on Biden’s administration, criticizing its handling of Ukraine’s military actions, particularly the policies regarding missile strikes into Russian territory. Trump characterized this as a “stupid” decision.

On the topic of the Postal Service, Trump suggested the possibility of privatization but offered no specifics. Regarding TikTok, he refrained from clarifying his approach toward the company’s operations in the U.S., while leaving open the possibility of supporting primary challengers against GOP senators who oppose his nominees.

Trump concluded his remarks without confirming whether Chinese leader Xi Jinping would attend his inauguration, stating he values the previous good relationship they had before COVID-19 developed complications.

Last updated 3:31 p.m., Dec. 16, 2024