Emerald Robinson, a Newsmax White House journalist, tweeted on Monday night that COVID-19 vaccinations include a “bioluminescent identifier” dubbed Lucifer “so that you can be monitored.”
Robinson’s message has subsequently been removed from Twitter, and it has been replaced with a statement noting that the tweet broke the social platform’s guidelines.
Meanwhile, Newsmax distanced itself from its reporter’s “false claims,” adding that the network has “never reported” that the vaccinations include monitoring devices.
Robinson, who has a lengthy history of making absurd and controversial claims on social media, responded to another Twitter user’s tweet claiming the “Moderna vaccine DOES contain Luciferase.” That user also included a video clip of a Wikipedia description of the enzyme, which states that “the name is derived from the Latin word lucifer, meaning ‘lightbearer’” and that the enzyme creates bioluminescence.
“Dear Christians: the vaccines contain a bioluminescent marker called LUCIFERASE so that you can be tracked,” Robinson blared in her Monday night tweet. “Read the last book of the New Testament to see how this ends.”
This is Newsmax's White House correspondent pic.twitter.com/hpmk7MXMxt
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) November 2, 2021
The Biblical reference is drawn from the Book of Revelation, which recounts a conflict in heaven between the Archangel Michael and “fallen angels” commanded by the devil, also known as Lucifer. The text also cautions that “no one may purchase or sell save he who had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
However, none of the COVID-19 vaccinations include luciferase or any other tracking components. While the enzyme was utilized in COVID-19 research to assist researchers monitor how viruses interact with cells, it is not a component of the vaccinations themselves. Furthermore, the enzyme has nothing to do with Satan or the devil; its name simply refers to the Latin word for light.
The far-right reporter’s post sparked significant ridicule on social media, with the phrase “Luciferase” trending on Tuesday. Many Twitter users lambasted the Newsmax journalist for making the ludicrous claim that vaccinations include a devil-linked monitoring device, as well as for blasting her post out using her iPhone.
“She tweets out that the COVID vaccine is meant to track your every move from an iPhone which literally tracks your every move,” political observer Josh Jordan noted. “The problem is that she knows it’s nonsense, but she’s built a brand on taking advantage of those who don’t know any better.”
She tweets out that the COVID vaccine is meant to track your every move from an iPhone which literally tracks your every move.
The problem is that she knows it's nonsense, but she's built a brand on taking advantage of those who don't know any better. pic.twitter.com/jkiQfhjXb6
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) November 2, 2021
A Twitter spokesman did not reply quickly to a request for comment on why Robinson’s post was removed and if it broke the internet giant’s COVID-19 disinformation policy.
“Newsmax strongly believes and has reported that the Covid 19 vaccines are safe and effective. We do not believe the vaccines contain any toxic materials or tracking markers, and such false claims have never been reported on Newsmax,” the network said in a statement essentially rebuking Robinson on Tuesday afternoon. “The many medical experts appearing on Newsmax have supported the use of the vaccine.”
Notably, when Newsmax host Rob Schmitt asserted in July that vaccinations are “against nature” and that certain illnesses are “intended to take out a certain number of people,” a network representative stated that Schmitt’s views “do not reflect the position of Newsmax.”
This is not the first time Robinson has spread misinformation about coronavirus immunizations. For example, in September of last year, she incorrectly stated that “the new vaccines will rewrite your DNA.” And three months ago, she falsely claimed that Pfizer’s CEO was unvaccinated.
Jennifer Psaki, the White House press secretary, has reportedly had enough of Robinson’s habit of screaming extra questions after White House press briefings have ended.
Psaki doubled down on the administration’s criticism of some U.S. Border Patrol agents’ “horrific” behavior in their handling of Haitian migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday afternoon, near the end of the daily White House briefing, which has become a “circus” of late, according to one veteran White House reporter.
“I don’t think anyone could look at those photos and think that was appropriate action or behavior or something that should be accepted within our administration. There’s an investigation. That’s ongoing. We’ll let that play out,” the press secretary said. “But our reaction to the photos has not changed.”
The briefing was over, save for Robinson, the accredited correspondent for the far-right cable news station Newsmax.
“Thank you, everyone,” said Psaki. An unidentified reporter responded, “Thank you, Jen,” making clear that the briefing was over.
Robinson kept going, calling out, “I have a question. On the polling. The president’s polling continues to collapse …” but got no further.
“Emerald, I know you like to shout at the end,” Psaki responded. “Next time, we’ll do it during the briefing.”
As Psaki departed, and Robinson made one more try: “Well, if you’d call on me…”
“Thank you so much,” Psaki said as she left the room.
Psaki’s internet admirers, who call her “#PsakiBomb,” understandably concluded she had escaped intact. However, Monday’s small skirmish illustrates a problem that the White House press office has been dealing with under Biden: renegade right-wing White House reporters, some of whom have questionable credentials.
