Veteran GOP strategist Keith Naughton said he was “a little” surprised by Trump’s recent cheerleading of the vaccines, given Trump’s claim earlier this year that he was unlikely to get a COVID-19 booster. But he said it also made political sense.

“On the surface it’s surprising. But when you think about it it’s a sensible thing,” he said. “It’s a sign that he is running. I think he knows he can’t just be part of that extremist side, he’s got to branch out.”…

Some Republicans welcomed Trump’s remarks, saying it will help their party if they are not tagged with an anti-vax label. A few also think it could lead to more people getting vaccinated.

“Absolutely. Because what you had is just a crescendo of misinformation from the small but loud anti-vaccine voice,” one Trump ally said when asked if the remarks could lead to more Republicans getting vaccinated.

“[F]or the past year, some of these fringe voices were allowed to speak, and then he didn’t respond to it. Now he spoke, and now these fringe voices just realize how small their voices are compared to the former president of the United States.”