Tessa Quinn
Florida pastor Rick Wiles, known for his anti-vax and right-wing views, was hospitalized with COVID-19-related pneumonia in June 2021. Weeks before his hospitalization, Wiles had referred to coronavirus vaccines as a mass death campaign, claiming they would wipe out stupid people. Wiles, who is also a talk show host and conspiracy theorist, founded the website TruNews, where he spreads homophobic, racist, and other hateful conspiracy theories. It is unclear how long Wiles remained in the hospital after contracting COVID-19, but he announced his release on the day of his hospitalization.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Rick Wiles |
| Occupation | Pastor, Talk Show Host, Conspiracy Theorist, Pundit, Christian Fundamentalist |
| Hospitalization Cause | COVID-19-related pneumonia |
| Views | Anti-vax, Right-wing, Anti-LGBTQ, Anti-transgender, Antisemitic, Racist, Homophobic |
| Hospitalization Date | June 2, 2021 |
| Hospital Release | Same day as hospitalization |
| Family Members Infected | Wife, Daughter-in-law, Grandson, and at least 3 other family members |
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What You'll Learn
Rick Wiles is a pastor from Florida
Rick Wiles is a non-denominational pastor from Vero Beach, Florida. He is the founder of the far-right website TruNews, which is accredited with press credentials. Wiles is also the senior pastor of the Flowing Streams Church in Florida. He has made various controversial statements, including referring to vaccination efforts as a "mass death campaign" and "global genocide." Wiles has also expressed support for former President Trump and made extreme anti-Semitic remarks.
In 2021, Wiles refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, claiming that the vaccines were being used to carry out "global genocide." He asserted that he would “survive the genocide” and that the pandemic was the “first global mass murder led by Satan's team on the planet." Unfortunately, Wiles fell ill with COVID-19, along with many members of his church. He was admitted to the hospital and required oxygen support.
Wiles is also known for his controversial political views and support for former President Donald Trump. He has made statements hoping that Trump will "round up liberal activists and torture them." Wiles has also referred to the FBI as "America's Gestapo police force" and accused them of spying on members of conservative Catholic churches who oppose the LGBTQ and transgender communities.
Rick Wiles is a well-known figure in far-right and religious circles, and his TruNews program has a loyal audience worldwide. However, his extreme views and controversial statements have also garnered significant criticism and concern for his mental health.
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He was hospitalised with Covid-19
Rick Wiles, a conspiracy theorist and pastor of a right-wing Florida church, was hospitalized with Covid-19. Wiles had previously claimed that vaccines to protect against the disease were part of a "mass death campaign". He also insisted that "COVID maniacs" could not vaccinate him against his will.
Wiles, who is known for his anti-vax and right-wing views, wrote on TruNews.com that he had Covid-19-related pneumonia and difficulty breathing. He said that he was being released from the hospital, but his wife was still very fatigued. His daughter-in-law was also in the hospital with extreme dehydration and vomiting, and at least four other family members, including his grandson, had developed Covid-19-related symptoms.
Wiles is the pastor of Flowing Streams Church, a non-denominational congregation in Vero Beach, Florida. He has a history of making controversial statements, such as claiming that the Covid-19 pandemic was God's punishment to Jews for opposing Jesus Christ and that the disease spread in synagogues. He has also said that Jews seek to obtain control of countries to "kill millions of Christians" and has referred to Jews as "deceivers".
In addition to his role as a pastor, Wiles is the founder of TruNews, a website and radio show known for promoting racist, homophobic, and antisemitic conspiracy theories. He has also spoken out in defense of Palestinians and against Israeli killings of Palestinian civilians during the Gaza war and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.
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Wiles refused to be vaccinated
Rick Wiles, a non-denominational pastor from the Flowing Streams Church in Vero Beach, Florida, refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Wiles, who founded the conspiracy-promoting TruNews website, claimed that the vaccines were being used to carry out a "global genocide".
In a statement made in late April, Wiles asserted that he would not be getting the COVID-19 vaccine, stating that he would "survive the genocide". He urged his followers to do the same, saying, "You have to survive it. Do not get vaccinated."
Wiles' refusal to be vaccinated is particularly notable given his position as a religious leader. While some Christian leaders have promoted conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines, others, such as Evangelical Christian leader Franklin Graham, have urged their supporters to get vaccinated. Graham told CNN, "I thank God for the vaccine."
Despite Wiles' claims that he would survive the "genocide", he was hospitalized with COVID-19 in May 2021. A letter to supporters reported by RightWingWatch stated that Wiles was "very weak" and asked for prayers. It noted that Wiles was on oxygen and was expected to remain in the hospital for several days.
Wiles' hospitalization highlights the dangers of refusing vaccination against COVID-19. While vaccine conspiracy theories have circulated widely, scientists and medical professionals have repeatedly emphasized the safety and effectiveness of approved vaccines in preventing severe cases of the disease.
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He claimed vaccines were part of a mass death campaign
Rick Wiles, a conspiracy theorist and pastor of a right-wing Florida church, claimed vaccines were part of a mass death campaign. Wiles is the pastor of Flowing Streams Church, a non-denominational congregation in Vero Beach, Florida. He has been a vocal opponent of COVID-19 vaccines, claiming that they are part of a plot by "the most evil cabal in history" to take over the world.
In an interview posted to TruNews in June 2021, Wiles said that he was "not going to be vaccinated." He stated, "I'm going to be one of the survivors. I'm going to survive the genocide. I am not going to allow the Covid maniacs to convince me to be vaccinated or vaccinate me against my will." He added, "I know what I'm reading. I know what I'm seeing. There is a mass death campaign underway right now, and the only good thing that will come out of this is that a lot of stupid people will be killed off."
Wiles also claimed that the COVID-19 virus was God's way of punishing China for having a "godless communist government." He warned that God's judgment would come down on America as well due to "the spiritual rebellion that is in this country," including "transgendering little children."
Just a few weeks after making these statements, Wiles was hospitalized with COVID-19-related pneumonia. He wrote on TruNews.com that he was having difficulty breathing but was being released from the hospital later that day. He also shared that his wife and daughter-in-law were very fatigued and hospitalized with extreme dehydration and vomiting, respectively. At least four other family members, including his grandson, had also developed COVID-19 symptoms.
Wiles's hospitalization and the impact on his family served as a stark contrast to his earlier claims about the COVID-19 vaccines. While he had referred to the vaccines as a "mass death campaign," the virus itself brought significant illness and hardship to him and his loved ones.
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Wiles founded the website TruNews
Rick Wiles is a far-right American conspiracy theorist, pundit, and Christian fundamentalist senior pastor at the non-denominational Flowing Streams Church in Vero Beach, Florida. He founded TruNews, a website and daily news and inspiration Godcast, in September 1998 in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.
TruNews, originally named America's Hope, made its first broadcast on May 24, 1999. After five years of regular broadcasts, the news station changed its name to America Freedom News, and later to TruNews. It has also been known as the Christian News Channel.
The website promotes racist, homophobic, and antisemitic conspiracy theories. Wiles has claimed that Jews seek to obtain control of countries to "kill millions of Christians" and has described them as "deceivers" who will "plot, lie, and do whatever they have to do to accomplish their political agenda". He has also made transphobic and homophobic claims, stating that the FBI has been caught infiltrating conservative Catholic churches to spy on members who oppose the LGBTQ and transgender movements.
In February 2020, YouTube permanently banned the TruNews channel for violating its rules on hate speech. Wiles denied his rhetoric was antisemitic, claiming that he had "no ill will toward the Jewish people". In March 2020, Wiles claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic was God's punishment to Jews for opposing Jesus Christ. He has also opposed vaccination efforts, describing them as a plot for "global genocide".
TruNews has an extremely loyal audience worldwide and is 100% listener-supported. Guests include members of the US Congress, the European Parliament, and the British Parliament, as well as scientists, astronauts, climatologists, billionaires, investors, authors, and retired US generals.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Rick Wiles was hospitalized with Covid-19-related pneumonia in 2021 and was released from the hospital the same day.
Rick Wiles is a non-denominational pastor at the Flowing Streams Church in Vero Beach, Florida. He is also a talk show host and founded TRUNEWS, a daily news and inspiration Godcast.
Rick Wiles is a conspiracy theorist and has expressed anti-vaccination and right-wing views. He has referred to Covid-19 vaccines as a mass death campaign and has claimed that they would wipe out "stupid people".
Yes, Rick Wiles was hospitalized with Covid-19 in 2021. He also shared that several family members had contracted Covid-19 and were experiencing symptoms and hospitalizations.
