Donald Trump, not his lookalike, promoted the COVID-19 vaccine several times

A woman fielding a question about former President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 vaccine promotion claimed that his past remarks may not have actually come from him.

An Instagram clip posted Feb. 28 showed a woman being asked, “You have mentioned in the past that Donald Trump was here to help humanity. If that’s true, then why did he promote the COVID vaccines and tell everyone to get it?”

She responded, “He did not. That was a, that was a lookalike that was doing that promotion for the, for the deep state.”

Figure 1: Claim about Trump lookalike promoting COVID-19 vaccine, with POF graphic, 2-29-24

(Screenshot from Instagram)

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

Trump promoted the COVID-19 vaccine several times. He did so on multiple platforms, some in front of audiences. There’s no evidence a lookalike made his public remarks.

The Washington Post compiled instances when Trump promoted the COVID-19 vaccine. He also said multiple times that he had taken the vaccine and told people in interviews, rallies, public events and press statements to get vaccinated. Here are some of his quotes:

On Fox News, March 16, 2021: “It works incredibly well. 95%, maybe even more than that … I would recommend it, and I would recommend it to a lot of people that don’t want to get it and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly. But again, we have our freedoms and we have to live by that and I agree with that also. But it’s a great vaccine, it’s a safe vaccine, and it’s something that works.”
At the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit on July 24, 2021, in Phoenix, (4:15:06-4:15:21): “How about the vaccine? I came up with the vaccine. They said it would take three to five years, gonna save the world. I recommend you take it, but I also believe in your freedoms 100%. But just so you understand, but it was a great achievement.”
At an Aug, 21, 2021, rally in Cullman, Alabama, (36:48-36:55): “You know what, I believe totally in your freedoms, I do. You gotta do what you have to do. But I recommend take the vaccines. I did it, it’s good. Take the vaccines.”
At Bill O’Reilly “History Tour” event Dec. 19, 2021, in Dallas: “If you don’t wanna take it you shouldn’t be forced to take it. No mandates. But take credit because we saved tens of millions of lives.” O’Reilly said, “Both the President and I are vaxxed, and did you get the booster?” Trump said, “Yes.”

There’s plenty of documentation that Trump promoted and recommended the COVID-19 vaccine. We rate the claim that it was Trump’s lookalike that did so Pants on Fire!

Truth-o-meter Ruling

Pants on Fire!

IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT

Former President Donald Trump promoted the COVID-19 vaccine on several occasions. He did so in interviews, rallies, public events and press statements.
Trump said multiple times that he had taken the COVID-19 vaccine.
Here’s how PolitiFact chooses which statements to fact-check.