Donald Trump, still infectious, faces backlash for taking off mask on return to White House
- US president removed his mask when he returned to the White House and urged Americans not to fear Covid-19
- Trump depicted himself as a man who vanquished the disease and emerged stronger
“Anybody who contracts the virus by essentially saying ‘masks don’t matter, social distancing doesn’t matter’, I think, is responsible for what happens to them,” Biden said at an NBC News town hall in Miami, moderated by Lester Holt.
Referring to last week’s presidential debate in Cleveland, Biden said that it was “a little disconcerting to look out and see his whole section; no one had masks on,” referring to Trump family members who defied debate audience safety protocols. “I didn’t quite get that.”
Biden’s sharper tone came as Trump left the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Monday night and returned to the White House, trying to project strength despite concern from his own doctors that the president is not fully recovered from Covid-19.
On his return, Trump took off his mask before putting out a Twitter video in which he said that maybe he was “immune” from the virus and played down its dangerousness.
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US President Donald Trump takes mask off as he arrives at White House
Biden said that he was “happy” that Trump and first lady Melania Trump were apparently on the mend, but he said he was concerned about the president’s sunny message about the virus.