(CNN) – Contested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro an “idiot” in a televised address on Tuesday, referring to the unfounded allegations. The Brazilian leader suggested that COVID-19 vaccines could increase the risk of AIDS.
“We must encourage vaccination, vaccination, vaccination,” Maduro said on state television, adding: “Idiot Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil. Idiot! People. Who spends their time messing with Venezuela.”
He went on to tell the audience that during a live broadcast: Bolsonaro went crazy to say that the coronavirus vaccine, a product of world science, protects and saves lives… and it causes AIDS.”
Facebook removed a video from .’s weekly live broadcast A Facebook spokesperson in Brazil told CNN that Bolsonaro was baseless suggesting that covid-19 vaccines could increase the risk of HIV infection on Sunday. In the broadcast, which aired last Thursday, Bolsonaro cited a fake story claiming that British government studies indicated that fully vaccinated people were developing AIDS “at a faster rate than expected”. Specialists told CNN that there are no such studies. According to experts, the vaccines against covid-19 are very effective and the possibility of an adverse reaction is rare.
“Our policies do not allow claims that COVID-19 vaccines kill or may cause significant harm to people,” a Facebook spokesperson said.
Maduro’s comments came on the same day that former US President Donald Trump endorsed Bolsonaro. “President Jair Bolsonaro and I have become good friends in recent years. He fights hard and loves the people of Brazil, just as I do the people of the United States,” Trump said in a statement shared by his chief spokesperson.
Trump added that Brazil was “lucky to have a man like Jair Bolsonaro working with them” and described him as a “great president” who “won’t fail the people of his great country.”
On Wednesday, in an on-camera interview with Jovem Pan News TV, Bolsonaro said: “Talking about vaccines is now a crime, they are blocking you, removing your page, and not letting you doubt about vaccines.”