In a striking divergence from his previously unwavering support, Alex Jones, the far-right media personality and founder of InfoWars, has publicly criticized Donald Trump over the former president’s promotion of COVID-19 vaccines.
Jones’s discontent centers around Trump’s claims of expediting the vaccine’s development, a stance that has led Jones to contemplate political opposition against Trump, whom he has supported for years.
Donald Trump, eyeing what is likely to be his third presidential run since 2016, has been vocal in asserting his role in the rapid production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, a claim that has not sat well with Jones. Speaking to his audience, Jones did not mince words: “If I see any more of this from Trump—any more of this—I’m going to have to go on the warpath, politically,” indicating a possible shift in his long-standing allegiance to Trump.
This potential rift comes as Trump defends his record against statements made by President Joe Biden in the State of the Union address on March 7, where Biden highlighted the broader benefits of vaccines, subtly crediting his administration’s efforts without directly mentioning Trump. In a pointed response on Truth Social, Trump lauded the vaccine’s “NINE MONTH APPROVAL TIME VS. 12 YEARS THAT IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN YOU!” directly addressing Biden and reclaiming credit for the vaccine’s timely availability during the pandemic.
Jones’s relationship with Trump has been complex, rooted in a mutual disdain for mainstream media and a shared penchant for challenging established narratives. Trump’s appearance on InfoWars in December 2015 marked a pivotal moment, aligning Jones’s fringe theories with Trump’s emerging political movement. Jones has since been a vocal advocate for Trump, championing his policies and contesting his election loss in 2020.
However, Trump’s embrace of the COVID-19 vaccine has surfaced as a point of contention between the two. Jones has consistently propagated vaccine skepticism, at odds with Trump’s celebration of the vaccine as a hallmark of his presidency. This discord has led Jones to issue a stark comparison, suggesting that Trump’s promotion of the vaccine is akin to ruining a meticulously prepared Thanksgiving meal in a gross manner—a vivid illustration of his disillusionment.
Jones’s criticisms extend beyond mere disagreement, framing Trump’s vaccine endorsement as a betrayal of the values they once shared. In November 2021, Jones expressed reservations about Trump’s legacy, telling Tim Pool, “I almost see Trump as destructive because he becomes the opposition to Democrats, but he’s got his own issues.” This sentiment was echoed in Jones’s emergency Christmas Day warning to Trump, where he starkly labeled the former president as “either completely ignorant about the so-called vaccine gene therapy you helped ram through with Operation Warp Speed, or you’re one of the most evil men who has ever lived.”
As Jones navigates his political stance, his criticism of Trump underscores a broader schism within conservative circles, where allegiance to Trump’s persona clashes with ideological purity on issues like vaccine skepticism. Whether Jones’s warpath materializes into political action remains to be seen, but his outspoken dissent signals a noteworthy fissure in the far-right’s support for Trump, hinting at the complexities of loyalty and ideology in American politics.