First lady Melania Trump’s office hit back after some media outlets criticized her for not wearing a mask while reading to children at an annual Christmas event at Children’s National Hospital.
“Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the event was limited in numbers of in-person participants and all guests were required to wear face masks and adhere to social distancing,” a statement from Trump’s office said.
“The visit followed the hospital’s mask protocols for public speakers, based on the District of Columbia health guidance, that wearing a mask is not required when a person is giving a speech for broadcast or an audience, provided no one is within six feet of the speaker,” it continued.
Media outlets, including the Hill and CNN, pounced on the event’s photographs, which showed the first lady maskless while reading to two children.
“Melania Trump removes mask to read to young patients at hospital,” the Hill’s headline reads. CNN ran the headline: “Melania Trump breaks children’s hospital rules by taking her mask off to read to patients.”
Trump’s office, however, continued to emphasize in its statement that no guidelines were broken.
“Throughout the holiday program, the First Lady was more than twelve feet away from others in the four-story atrium. Today’s visit, broadcast to 325 inpatient hospital rooms, followed these guidelines,” Trump’s office continued.
The first lady continued the 70-year tradition of reading to children at the hospital on Tuesday, saying that she treasures the event.
“Every year I cherish my visit to @ChildrensNatl to read a holiday story to the children & meet with the dedicated & inspiring healthcare professionals. This will be my 4th holiday visit there & I look forward to spending time again with so many brave children & their families,” the first lady tweeted on Tuesday.
