'From 'build the wall' to 'save the Juul'': Trump's Friday vape vow draws instant mockery
Donald Trump went on a mini-posting spree on Truth Social Friday afternoon, including a false claim that he worked to help limit flavored vaping to stop kids from using it.
"I saved Flavored Vaping in 2019," Trump said, "and it greatly helped people get off smoking. I raised the age to 21, keeping it away from the 'kids.'"
But as a Politico report from 2020 explains, Trump's description of his administration's actions on flavored e-cigarettes is not accurate.
"The Trump administration Thursday rolled out a limited ban on flavored e-cigarettes, enraging anti-tobacco advocates who called the measure a political capitulation that would cause more kids to become addicted to nicotine," said the report.
A previous Politico report cited Trump's comments on Sept. 11, 2019, saying he would "ban all flavored vaping products from sale in gas stations, convenience stores and e-cigarette shops."
There was a significant increase in teen usage of vaping and an increase in lung diseases in this period, and even former first lady Melania Trump was pressing for solutions.
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Trump's Friday afternoon vaping pledge ignited instance ridicule from observers on Twitter.
"Trump now running on vaping, like he thinks this will land him in the White House," said ex-NBC producer Mike Sington.
"Trump wants to make vaping great again," joked CBS's Kathryn Watson
"Not sure we’re ever had a presidential nominee run on a platform to save vaping, but at this point he is promising everyone everything," said Midas Touch editor Ron Filipkowski.
Police psychologist Kris Mohandie noted, "Vaping is toxic. Promoting it is absolutely on brand for Trump!"
Data analyst Chris Swat mocked, "We’ve gone from 'build the wall' to 'save the Juul.' What’s next? 'Ban soggy French fries'? 'Protect your right to binge-watch Netflix without judgment?'"
Swat quoted Trump's status update bragging about preserving flavored vapes.
"Dude's rallying vapers like they’re an endangered species. Forget swing states, he’s going after cloud chasers. Forget 'purple states,' we’re talking about purple haze states now," he then said on X.
Trump's second Friday post attacked Vice President Kamala Harris again claiming she was lying about working at McDonald’s during her summer break from college. Trump was also an advocate of the racist birther conspiracy claiming Barack Obama wasn't born in the United States and wasn't legally president.