Will Trump Receive The COVID-19 Vaccine?

President Trump has long-championed that the solution to the coronavirus pandemic is approving a vaccination as soon as possible. He has also taken much pride in his administration's work to quickly develop and approve a safe and effective coronavirus vaccination. "In the past nine months, my administration has initiated the single greatest mobilization in U.S. history — pioneering, developing, and manufacturing therapies and vaccines in record time," Trump said in a November 2020 briefing. 

The vaccine, developed by Pfizer, has since been approved for emergency use in America, and it has been recommended that healthcare personnel are the first to receive the vaccine. That group also included Vice President Mike Pence, who, while not a healthcare worker, is head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and went forward with receiving the vaccination in a televised event. "This is always a season of hope. We gather here today at the end of a historic week to affirm to the American people that hope is on the way," he said in remarks following his vaccine injection. Pence added that he and his wife, Karen Pence, were "more than happy" to take the "safe and effective" vaccine. It's worth mentioning that Pence's positive rhetoric comes as many Americans have vocalized their skepticism for the quickly developed vaccine.

Notably missing from the event was Trump himself, which has led many to wonder: Will Trump receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

Despite months of supporting the fast creation and rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine, President Trump does not have a set plan to receive it. According to a White House official (per CNN), Trump will not be administered the vaccine "until it's recommended by the White House medical team." The source said Trump is currently still "receiving the benefits" of the antibody cocktail he began taking following his COVID-19 diagnosis in October 2020. Trump remains open to receiving the vaccine, according to the official.

Meanwhile, Trump reversed the original decision to have the vaccine administered to "all three branches of government" during its initial rollout in America, per NPR. On Dec. 13, 2020, the 45th President of the United States tweeted that "people working in the White House should receive the vaccine somewhat later in the program, unless specifically necessary," adding that he personally requested "that this adjustment be made." He also confirmed that he is not currently scheduled to receive the vaccine, but that he "look[s] forward to doing so at the appropriate time."

Meanwhile, president-elect Joe Biden told CNN on Dec. 3, 2020 that he will receive the coronavirus vaccine once it is deemed safe and available to the public.  He joined former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton who had previously pledged to do the same (per USA Today). As of this writing, there has been no further word on when Biden will receive the vaccine.