Ivanka Trump urged people to adhere to social distancing guidelines as they celebrate Independence Day.
She did so as her father, President Trump, attended a fireworks celebration at Mount Rushmore where face masks are optional and social distancing was not required.
“Please be safe & responsible this holiday weekend. As we celebrate this 4th of July, follow state & local guidelines to keep you & your loved ones safe. Practice proper hygiene, social distancing & wear a mask when in close proximity to others,” the first daughter and White House adviser tweeted Friday evening.
Please be safe & responsible this holiday weekend. As we celebrate this 4th of July, follow state & local guidelines to keep you & your loved ones safe. Practice proper hygiene, social distancing & wear a mask when in close proximity to others. ??
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) July 4, 2020
Both masks and social distancing are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Ivanka Trump has been seen sporting a face mask on multiple occasions while her father has faced intense scrutiny for refusing to wear one in public.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said face masks will be made available to everyone in attendance at the ticketed Mount Rushmore event, but she stressed that wearing one is not mandatory and that social distancing won’t be recommended.
“Those who want to come and join us, we will give out free masks if they choose to wear one, but we won’t be social distancing. We are asking them to come be ready to celebrate, to enjoy the freedoms and the liberties we have in this country, and to talk about our history. And what it brought us today was an opportunity to raise our kids in the greatest country in the world,” the Republican governor said on Fox News earlier this week.
The United States, which leads the world in the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections and related deaths, recorded its largest single-day total of coronavirus infections on Friday with 57,497 confirmed cases reported. Recent spikes in coronavirus cases in several states have prompted governors to halt their plans to reopen their economies.
Former President Barack Obama encouraged people on Friday to be “smart” during this year’s July 4 festivities, urging people to “listen to the experts” when it comes to the coronavirus and not “the folks trying to divide us.”
Kimberly Guilfoyle, a top fundraiser for the Trump reelection campaign and the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday in South Dakota before she was expected to attend the fireworks celebration at Mount Rushmore.
