Former presidents, excluding Trump, tout vaccines in new ads

All of the nation’s former living presidents are appearing in new ads this week encouraging Americans to get their COVID-19 vaccines — except for former President Trump.

In a one-minute spot released by the Ad Council on Wednesday, former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama called on U.S. residents to get inoculations when they can in an effort to end the coronavirus pandemic. 

“This vaccine means hope. It will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease,” Obama said in the ad, titled “It’s Up To You.”

The clip shows photos of all four of the former presidents and their spouses — former first ladies Rosalynn Carter, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama — receiving vaccines.

Some of the former presidents also shared what they are looking forward to once the pandemic ends in the ad.

Clinton said he is anticipating going “back to work” and being “able to move around,” while Obama said he wants to see Michelle Obama’s mother and “hug her and see her on her birthday.” 

Bush shared that he wants to go “to opening day at Texas Rangers Stadium with a full stadium.”

“We’ve lost enough people, and we’ve suffered enough damage,” Clinton said in the ad.

In a second ad released Wednesday, Clinton, Bush and Obama again called on Americans to get vaccinated, calling vaccines the “first step to ending the pandemic and moving our country forward.”

“The science is clear,” Bush said in the Wednesday video. “These vaccines will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease.” 

“They could save your life,” Clinton added.

Former President Trump did not appear in either of the public service announcements. The efforts to film the ads started in December, when Trump remained in office, The Washington Post reported, citing Ben Dorf, a vice president at the Ad Council.

Some of the ads were also filmed at President Biden’s inauguration. Trump did not attend the January event. 

Approximately 62.5 million people in the U.S. have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Thursday morning.