Trump Advocated for the COVID-19 Vaccine. So Why Do Many Conservatives Still Distrust It?
Understanding vaccine attitudes through the lens of trust, identity, and messaging.
For many Americans, especially in conservative communities, COVID-19 wasn’t just a health crisis; it was also a moment of deep conflict over trust, identity, and values. Even though a vaccine was developed under a Republican administration, longstanding tensions with public institutions shaped how it was received. Donald Trump’s administration invested billions into developing the COVID-19 vaccine through Operation Warp Speed in 2020. So why did many of his supporters later reject it? I’ve seen this question raised frequently on social media. In this post, I’ll explore how a mix of group identity, institutional distrust, and media messaging helps explain what happened.
When the COVID-19 vaccine was first released, Trump publicly praised the vaccine, encouraged Americans to get their shots, and claimed credit for its rapid development. However, in a unique moment, Trump was actually booed by some of his supporters when he mentioned the vaccine in 2021 at a rally. Data consistently shows that Republicans are significantly less likely than Democrats to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and this has spilled over to broader vaccine attitudes. Why are so many Republicans vaccine-hesitant when the leader of the modern Republican party helped fund and advocate for the COVID-19 vaccine?
Distrust in Institutions Runs Deep
Conservatives have long expressed skepticism toward large institutions, including the federal government, universities, and mainstream media. Over time, this wariness has extended to public health agencies like the CDC, especially when they’re seen as extensions of a political establishment.
During the pandemic, public health messaging had legitimate problems. The communication around COVID-19 was inconsistent and often failed to reach the target audience effectively. Given the confusion and shifting guidance early in the pandemic, it’s understandable why many people, especially those who already distrust large institutions, felt unsure about new public health recommendations. These communication failures only fueled distrust towards those institutions, and in response, many conservatives increasingly turned to trusted community sources and media outlets that shared their skepticism.
In the polarized climate of the United States, when a disliked group, such as scientific institutions or Democrats, supports something like vaccines, people are more likely to oppose it simply because of who endorses it. Importantly, there was already a growing partisan divide for policies that supported immunization before COVID-19 hit. So, this skepticism towards vaccination, already simmering, was amplified by conservative media personalities who framed health guidance as overreach and the vaccine as a symbol of elite control rather than a public good.
Although Trump advocated for the vaccine a few times, he eventually quieted his support for it, and focused more on criticizing Biden’s rollout instead. When the vaccine did arrive for the larger public in the Spring of 2021 (after Trump left office), it was already deeply politicized, and was more easily associated with Biden, who was currently in office. Trump’s mild support of the vaccine did not significantly influence his base because they did not trust the institutions (e.g. Big Pharma, public health agencies, etc.) behind the product, and especially did not trust the Biden administration who was rolling it out to the public.
Social Networks and Identities Shape Belief
Overall, Americans do not trust government officials, and trust members of their opposing political party even less. Research has found that vaccine-hesitant individuals are more likely to trust friends and family over government sources. Furthermore, rejecting COVID-19 policies from the Biden administration became a matter of identity signaling. Skepticism toward the vaccine became a way to express conservative identity, and was reinforced by the shared identity of their social group. Influential figures in conservative spaces continued to cast doubt on vaccine safety, emphasized rare adverse events, and framed public health guidance as government overreach.
In that climate, it didn’t matter that Trump helped create the vaccine. What mattered was who was promoting it now, and whether those voices aligned with in-group identity and values. The messenger—local, relatable, and expressing shared values—often carried more weight than the message itself.
This is why public health officials, scientists, and physicians must spend time communicating their knowledge to the public in an effective way. Trust is largely comprised of social and relational factors. If people think you have your best interests at heart, they are more likely to trust you. An impersonal federal health agency with clunky top-down messaging probably won’t connect well with a group of people who are already skeptical of it. Conversely, an influencer who directly speaks to those in their shared group will resonate much more.
Public health leaders missed key opportunities to connect. Messaging often lacked clarity and cultural awareness, leaving many Americans, especially in conservative communities, feeling alienated rather than informed. Rebuilding trust isn’t a one-time fix: it’s a process rooted in humility, empathy, and consistent community engagement. If we want people to listen, we need to meet them where they are and show them they’ve been heard.
Final Thoughts
Vaccine hesitancy among conservatives isn’t about rejecting Trump, it’s about deeper patterns of distrust, group identity, and emotionally resonant messaging. Worldwide research on vaccination consistently shows substantial benefits, but just shouting facts at people skeptical about vaccines will not be very effective. If we want to improve public health, we need to stop asking, “Why won’t they listen to the facts?” and start asking, “Who do they trust, and what values do they live by?”
In today’s divided information landscape, the messenger matters just as much as the message.