Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) took a victory lap on President Donald Trump’s decision to reinstate military members who rejected the COVID-19 vaccine, indicating that many who were fired likely held conservative beliefs.
Trump said in August 2024 that, if elected, he would rehire the 8,000 service members who rejected the vaccine while giving them all an apology and back pay. With Trump fulfilling this promise in a Day One executive order, Mast, a retired army ranger, celebrated the order from Trump’s White House, calling it a “great day for patriots” and his “brothers and sisters in arms.”
“Let’s not forget: You go back in time, and it wasn’t just the military, it was other government agencies as well where they were washing, essentially conservatives, that were raising their hand saying, ‘Hey, I don’t want to take this vaccine,’” Mast said on Fox News’s Fox & Friends. “They were washing them out of government, washing them out of West Point and Naval Academy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine academies. Washing them out from being on the next promotion boards for first sergeant, sergeant’s majors, or officers.”
Mast added that by firing these service members who rejected the vaccine, the Biden administration created a system in which those who were given promotions were the ones who said “I’m not a conservative” and were OK with the mandate being enforced.
The Florida lawmaker introduced a bill in 2022 to rehire the service members who had been discharged over their refusal to get vaccinated. With Trump’s executive order, Mast said it would be “beautiful” to see these service members return after standing up for their beliefs and be rewarded for it.
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Mast was asked about House Republicans working with Trump on a massive reconciliation bill, assuring that the president would be “a strong head coach” with a playbook to follow. He also assured that Trump’s campaign promises would be “delivered” in this bill, including providing no taxes on tips.
House Republicans are in Doral, Florida, for a three-day retreat to get on the same page with the president, as the party has to work with a narrow majority. Among the Republicans attending this retreat is Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), who said he is ready to help House Republicans “advance” their work on reconciliation while also helping the conservative Freedom Caucus get what it wants.