President Donald Trump returned to the White House podium on Tuesday and offered a stark shift in tone about the progression of the coronavirus, urging Americans to wear a mask as he predicted the spread of the disease will worsen before it improves, USA Today reported.
“It will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better,” the president said during the Coronavirus Task Force briefing.
President Trump: “The China Virus is a viscous and dangerous illness”.
Coronavirus Briefings are back.
“The China Virus is a viscous and dangerous illness..” pic.twitter.com/jkeEzAwxRO
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 21, 2020
The Commander in Chief also urged Americans to wear a mask and encouraged young Americans to avoid crowded bars and to “be smart.”
“We’re asking everybody that when you are not able to socially distance, wear a mask, get a mask,” President Trump said in perhaps his strongest urging to date on that issue. “Whether you like the mask or not, they have an impact, they have an effect. We need everything we can get.”
On Monday, the president suggested wearing a mask is patriotic; he tweeted: “We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance. There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President!” Video Below
President Trump urged Americans to wear a mask:
Pres. Trump: "When you are not able to socially distance, wear a mask…Whether you like the mask or not, they have an impact, they'll have an effect—and we need everything we can get."
The comment follows months of mixed messages from Trump over masks. https://t.co/muLAo8iGtl pic.twitter.com/BUmOVcktMt
— ABC News (@ABC) July 21, 2020
The Commander in Chief admitted that he “carries a mask” when he has to “go out”.
He pulled out a mask from his suit jacket pocket to show reporters, saying, “I have the mask right here. I carry it, and I will use it gladly. No problem with it. And I’ve said that.”
“And I say, ‘If you can, use the mask, when you can use the mask’. If you’re close to each other, you’re in a group– I would put it on. … I have no problem with a masks,” he added: “I view it this way: Anything that potentially can help and that certainly can potentially help, is a good thing.”
Continued Below
President Trump’s full remarks during Tuesday’s Coronavirus Task Force briefing:
(Related: Wallace To Trump: “I’m Not Saying You’re Going To Lose… But If You Did, How Crushing Would It Be?”)
