HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA/USA DECEMBER 10, 2019: President Donald Trump, left, appears with vice-president Mike Pence
Vice President Mike Pence, the Coronavirus Task Force chief, and former Trump UN Ambassador Nikki Haley are under fire for trying to give credit for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to President Donald Trump and the White House's "Operation Warp Speed."
Pfizer announced Monday morning its coronavirus vaccine is 90% effective. The pharmaceutical giant refused to partner with the Trump administration to develop the drug, instead it worked with a German group.
Yet Pence rushed to grab credit:
HUGE NEWS: Thanks to the public-private partnership forged by President @realDonaldTrump, @pfizer announced its Cor… https://t.co/DF1SkZrFKW— Mike Pence (@Mike Pence) 1604928977.0
Haley also tried to give the credit to Trump:
The news about the @pfizer vaccine being 90% effective is great news for the American people! Many thanks to… https://t.co/kCAoZjHyuy— Nikki Haley (@Nikki Haley) 1604927845.0
They're both wrong.
Here's the CEO of Pfizer in September explaining why he opted out of Trump's program:
ICYMI: Why is @Pfizer financing #Covid19 #vaccine development on its own - instead of accepting government funding?… https://t.co/iqaVTw5LVO— Face The Nation (@Face The Nation) 1600014281.0
On social media, Pence and Haley drew criticism:
@Mike_Pence @realDonaldTrump @pfizer THERE WAS NO PARTNERSHIP!!!! STOP LYING!! https://t.co/OjVaJDn7Nj— Just Vent (@Just Vent) 1604929101.0
Nikki is lying again. Pfizer rejected Trump’s “help”. https://t.co/22rZ77a5a1— The Hoarse Whisperer (@The Hoarse Whisperer) 1604928336.0
@Mike_Pence @realDonaldTrump @pfizer That's not what Pfizer is saying: https://t.co/qdqGxrjQ7i— Rich Parr (@Rich Parr) 1604929353.0
@NikkiHaley @pfizer @realDonaldTrump The era of lying is over. Try to adjust.— KjellAT (@KjellAT) 1604927988.0
Fact check: Pfizer developed its vaccine separate from "Operation Warp Speed," spending $2 billion of its own money… https://t.co/XkpTcsavVt— Mark Jacob (@Mark Jacob) 1604929709.0
@NikkiHaley @pfizer @realDonaldTrump @pfizer was not part of Warp Speed @NikkiHaley They did this on their own, n… https://t.co/KaDlEZI5Rl— Donna Stidham (@Donna Stidham) 1604928250.0
@NikkiHaley @pfizer @realDonaldTrump Try again... https://t.co/KFpBfKRLDu— Shannon WE DID IT! AGAIN! (@Shannon WE DID IT! AGAIN!) 1604928360.0
@NikkiHaley @pfizer @realDonaldTrump They were NOT part of Warp Speed BECAUSE TRUMP POLITICIZES EVERYTHING. https://t.co/7gI7iVsfDI— 🗽BlondeinBrooklyn🗽 (@🗽BlondeinBrooklyn🗽) 1604928480.0
