Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Monday evening called former President Barack Obama a "creepy old man" for urging Americans to get the coronavirus vaccine in a public service announcement.
In a segment on Tucker Carlson Tonight, the host played Obama's recent remarks about the vaccine on NBC News, before criticizing the ex-president over the announcement.
"NBC is now running, and you may have seen these, PSAs (public service announcements) with its on-air talent demanding that everyone in the country get the shot. Barack Obama just released this creepy little video telling small children to get the shot," he said.
The host then aired the ex-president's message, which aired last week.
"Hi everybody it's Barack. Now that every American over the age of 16 is eligible to get the vaccine I want to talk about you getting yours," Obama said. "The vaccine is safe, it's effective, it's free. I got one, Michelle got one, people you know got one. And now you can get one too. It's the only way we're going to get back to all the things we love, from spending time with grandparents, to going to concerts, to watching live sports. So get the vaccine as soon as you can."
Carlson scoffed, shook his head in disgust and called Obama the "NBC on-air talent."
The host also referred to his public health message as "some creepy old guy telling your children, your little kids to take medicine whose effects we do not fully understand. That's totally normal, yeah, that happens every day. Don't ask questions, just do it."
He then aired a recent CNN clip of medical analysts explaining how increased vaccination rates correlate with reduced community infection rates. "As CNN recently explained we're not getting our freedom back until you [vaccinate your children]," Carlson said.
Since Biden moved the COVID-19 vaccination eligibility date for all Americans over the age of 16 up to April 19, 2021, a rising number of Americans have been receiving their first and second doses of vaccine. Public figures including Obama have been vocal in the media about their support of vaccines in an effort to dispel any public fears and myths circulating the internet.
Carlson has been a vocal opponent of COVID-19 mask use throughout the pandemic and has questioned vaccination efforts frequently. On the episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight that aired on April 15, he told viewers, "this show has been pretty adamantly pro-vaccine from the first day and remains that way." It's unclear, based on his remarks Monday if he has since changed his opinion. He has previously spoken out vehemently against mask-wearing mandates on numerous occasions.
In late April, he proposed a "Burning Mask Festival" after Burning Man was canceled. A few days before that, he equated children being asked to wear masks with "child abuse" and called on his viewers to call child protective services when they see it happening in their communities.
Newsweek reached out to Fox News representatives for comment. This story will be updated with any response.
Update (5/4/2021, 7:15 p.m.): This article has been updated to include additional context.
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