A White House official has pushed back on an Associated Press report discussing how the Biden administration is looking for even more strict ways to force vaccine compliance, including mandating the jabs for interstate travel.
The story said the administration worried going that far “would be too polarizing for the moment” (emphasis mine).
Still, while more severe measures — such as mandating vaccines for interstate travel or changing how the federal government reimburses treatment for those who are unvaccinated and become ill with COVID-19 — have been discussed, the administration worried that they would be too polarizing at this time.
That's not to say they won't be implemented in the future, as public opinion continues to shift toward requiring vaccinations as a means to restore normalcy. (AP)
That line raised eyebrows Friday morning.
Biden's plan:
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) August 13, 2021
Limits on interstate travel for Americans.
Open borders for illegal immigrants. pic.twitter.com/IRWY5eBwJ1
The Biden Admin is discussing mandating vaccines for interstate travel pic.twitter.com/5utzxproOM
— Jack Posobiec ???? (@JackPosobiec) August 13, 2021
Never forget that the people who are now cheering the White House’s consideration of vaccine passports for all interstate travel were enthusiastically demanding the police arrest a lone paddle boarder 100 yards out on the ocean to “protect us from COVID”
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) August 13, 2021
Mandating the covid vaxx for interstate travel has “been discussed”?! Hell no. This is a called a test balloon, to prepare people for when the Biden admin drops this dictate. This is OUTRAGEOUS. pic.twitter.com/q9u0ifwbLi
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) August 13, 2021
A White House official told a Reuters reporter, however, that requiring vaccines for interstate travel “is not under consideration at this moment.” The key words again being "at this moment."
This line in an @AP White House story is getting a lot of attention this morning. A White House official says mandating vaccines for interstate travel "is not under consideration at this moment." https://t.co/wCSkPl7sny
— davidshepardson (@davidshepardson) August 13, 2021
Townhall will be watching any follow up on this from President Biden and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. Stay tuned.