‘Wear a mask!’ Republicans break with Donald Trump as coronavirus cases soar
- Some red state leaders encouraging or even mandating use of face coverings, even as US president continues to shun their use
- Former vice-president Dick Cheney’s daughter, lawmaker Liz Cheney, tweeted photo of him wearing a surgical mask with the hashtag #realmenwearmasks
In a rare split with mask-averse US President Donald Trump, fellow Republican leaders are making a public push for face coverings as Covid-19 cases surge in some Republican-leaning states.
The top Republican in the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, said every American has a responsibility to follow the recommendations of health officials to wear masks and socially distance themselves to help slow the spread of infection.
“They should wear a mask,” McCarthy told CNBC on Monday after his home state of California began to roll back efforts to reopen the economy.
“If you cannot social distance, you need to be wearing a mask and you need to be respectful to one another.”
Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, where cases are spiking, posted a similar message on Twitter.
“I am encouraging everyone to WEAR YOUR MASKS!” he said.