Pentagon ran secret anti-vax campaign to undermine China during pandemic
The military program started under former President Donald Trump and continued months into Joe Biden’s presidency, Reuters found – even after alarmed social media executives warned the new administration that the Pentagon had been trafficking in COVID misinformation. The Biden White House issued an edict in spring 2021 banning the anti-vax effort, which also disparaged vaccines produced by other rivals, and the Pentagon initiated an internal review, Reuters found.
The U.S. military is prohibited from targeting Americans with propaganda, and Reuters found no evidence the Pentagon’s influence operation did so.
Spokespeople for Trump and Biden did not respond to requests for comment about the clandestine program.
Answer (1)
The Pentagon reportedly ran a secret anti-vax campaign to undermine China's influence during the pandemic. This military program, which started under former President Donald Trump, continued into Joe Biden's presidency, even after social media executives warned the administration about the Pentagon's COVID misinformation ¹.*Key Points:*- *Program Origins*: The program began under Trump's presidency, aiming to counter China's growing influence.- *Continuation*: It continued into Biden's presidency, despite warnings from social media executives.- *Misinformation*: The program involved spreading COVID misinformation and disparaging vaccines from rival countries.- *Ban and Review*: The Biden White House banned the program in spring 2021, prompting an internal Pentagon review.It's essential to note that the U.S. military is prohibited from targeting Americans with propaganda, and there's no evidence the Pentagon's influence operation did so ¹. However, the lack of comments from Trump and Biden's spokespeople raises questions about the program's intentions and implications.
