Liberal political commentator Keith Olbermann said Texans do not deserve the coronavirus vaccine after Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced plans to open the state back up and revoke mask mandates.

“Why are we wasting vaccinations on Texas if Texas has decided to join the side of the virus?” Olbermann tweeted Tuesday in response to Gov. Abbott.

Many called for Olbermann to apologize for his tweet.

“I understand your frustration, but this is a garbage take. That’s my family you’re talking about. My friends. Everyone I grew up with. Human beings with human rights. They should not be denied a life-saving vaccine because their governor is an idiot. Delete this & apologize,” TV producer David Slack said.

“People deserve to stay safe and healthy no matter who they voted for,” left-wing pundit Molly Jong-Fast replied.

“I just think it’s wrong to make gross generalizations about the lives and potential deaths of an entire population,” Dallas Morning News reporter Evan Grant wrote. “It is mean-spirited and unhelpful on every front.”

Olbermann then went on to call Gov. Abbott a “mass murderer.”

Gov. Abbott noted that the coronavirus vaccine was a major contributor as to why Texas was able to reopen safely.

“With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus,” Abbott said in a statement Tuesday.

“Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed,” Abbott continued.

Nearly 5.7 million vaccine shots have been administered to Texans, and the state is now administering almost one million shots each week. By next Wednesday, about 7 million shots will have been administered in Texas and over half of seniors in Texas will have received a vaccine shot.

Follow Annaliese Levy on Twitter @AnnalieseLevy