From the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, right-wing pastor and radio host E.W. Jackson dismissed concerns about the virus and vowed to defy government orders to close churches in an effort to prevent its spread.
Jackson regularly used his "The Awakening" radio program downplay the severity of the pandemic while railing against those who refused to blame China for the virus, going so far as to say that anyone who refused to do so should be investigated for treason.
In March, Jackson boldly proclaimed that God was protecting both President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence from contracting the virus and repeatedly declared that he would never contract it because he was also being protected by God.
"I will not get the coronavirus," Jackson guarantee. "Who do you think you are? How can you say that? Because I asked God to protect me from it. I confessed Psalm 91 over my life and over the life of my congregation and over the life of our families and we're not getting it."
E.W. Jackson boldly declares that he will not get the coronavirus because he is being protected by God. pic.twitter.com/NgzfNPfPKT
— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) March 27, 2020
Jackson was mysteriously absent from his radio program all last week, and when he returned today, he informed his audience that it was because he and his wife had contracted COVID-19. He made the same announcement during church services Sunday morning.
During yesterday's church service, Jackson announced that he had contracted COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/aW4uXDYbnF
— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) November 16, 2020
