President Trump said Wednesday that he supports wearing masks.
“I’m all for masks. I think masks are good,” Trump told Fox Business.
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Pressure on Trump to wear a mask in public has mounted in recent weeks as several states in the South and West have recorded daily increases in coronavirus cases. Republicans, such as Vice President Mike Pence and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have implored people to wear masks. Trump’s media allies on Fox News have also asked him to wear one to “set a good example.”
Trump has said several times since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that he is tested for the coronavirus frequently, as is everyone in his inner circle, and does not need to wear a mask. He has also suggested that people wearing masks are signaling disapproval of him. However, he said Wednesday that he would wear one if he were in a “tight” group.
He added, “I don’t know if you need mandatory [mask-wearing].”
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Several cities in Sun Belt states have mandated that people wear masks in public. Governors, such as Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida, have been reluctant to make them mandatory but frequently encourage people to wear them as often as possible. California Gov. Gavin Newsom went a step further recently by making masks compulsory throughout the entire state.
Public health officials say masks would slow the spread of the coronavirus. In a Senate hearing Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said, “There’s no doubt that wearing masks protects you and gets you to be protected.” Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, added, “They work, they’re very effective, and I think they’re a great investment for the American people.”
