Mayor Glenn Jacobs claims COVID response was PR campaign

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, former WWE star known as “Kane,” told attendees at the 2026 Young Americans for Liberty National Convention that the U.S. COVID‑19 response was largely a public‑relations effort with little scientific basis. He recalled a September 2020 meeting in Tennessee with former White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, saying she was the architect of pandemic policies and urged officials to close restaurants and bars despite data he claimed showed limited spread.

Jacobs said the discussion highlighted a “marketing campaign” rather than a health strategy. He has repeatedly criticized mask and vaccine mandates, asserting he fought to keep businesses and schools open throughout the pandemic.