Why Is An Exiled Chinese Billionaire Pushing Anti-Vaccine Misinformation in the US?

An exiled billionaire from China has been peddling anti-vaccination misinformation while at the same time pushing for the use of unproven COVID-19 treatments.

On Tuesday, CNBC reported that Guo Wengui is using his show on the online network GTV to push ivermectin, which is used to treat parasitic infections, and malaria drug artemisinin to treat COVID-19. Neither the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) have approved any of these drugs for treating COVID-19. The FDA and CDC have warned against using ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment because of the dangers connected to it.

Guo, who built his wealth as a real estate tycoon, fled China in 2014 after anticipating authorities there would file corruption charges against him. Since arriving in the U.S. in 2015, Guo has rankled Chinese authorities by pushing a series of claims alleging corruption by other officials in the Communist Party. Since his exodus, China has sought his arrest and requested an Interpol red notice that would allow for his extradition if arrested by another nation’s law enforcement.

On his show, Guo has dabbled in conspiratorial rhetoric against existing COVID-19 vaccines. He discouraged parents from getting their children vaccinated though the FDA says it is safe for parents of children aged 12 and older to receive a vaccine.

“Remember, artemisinin, ivermectin, dexamethasone, oxytetracycline, hydroxychloroquine, and zinc are the necessary medicines to fight the CCP virus. These few medicines will eradicate the virus,” Guo said during his Sept. 5 episode on GTV, according to a translation of the broadcast. Guo also described artemisinin, an anti-malaria drug, as an “antidote” to COVID-19 in an earlier episode.

Guo is considered to be aligned with Republican circles close to former President Donald Trump, which have also been accused of pushing misinformation about the vaccines and COVID-19 in general. He is a close associate of former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and is a member of the ex-president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The Chinese government previously tried to relay a request to Trump through a political ally that called for Guo’s extradition to China. Trump considered but did not act on the request.