The fight then continued on Twitter after Huffman subtweeted Donalds, as seen below.
I just had to take a different elevator because an unvaccinated, defiantly unmasked GOP colleague doesn't give a sh… https://t.co/pN2EXzLYql— Rep. Jared Huffman (@Rep. Jared Huffman) 1627489254.0
According to Huffman's tweet, their argument began when the two men went to share an elevator and Donaldson refused to put on a mask. Huffman accused Donaldson of not giving "a sh*t about anyone but himself."
Donaldson fired back a few minutes later in a tweet in which he heralded himself as a "free-thinking American" and told the "patronizing" Huffman to "mind his own business."
Adding @JaredHuffman to the growing list of privileged liberals patronizing me for being a free-thinking American.… https://t.co/f7O9YBvRz0— Byron Donalds (@Byron Donalds) 1627489535.0
Huffman responded that he was criticizing Donalds for being "selfish," not for being free-thinking, as well as for being "[scientifically], factually and morally wrong."
Donalds, who has publicly stated he is not vaccinated, then claimed the "real epidemic" in America is the supposed tyranny of liberals expecting people to do the bare minimum to protect public health.
The real epidemic in America is liberals continuing to tell free people how to think. Jared, mind your business a… https://t.co/ohmT7nJ9b2— Byron Donalds (@Byron Donalds) 1627490077.0
The death toll of the pandemic so far stands at more than 600,000 people, so it's safe to assume it still is, and always has been, the "real epidemic."
Huffman's and Donalds' fight comes on the heels of Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi reinstating a mask mandate in the House of Representatives following updated guidance from the CDC and the House's attending physician amidst the surging Delta variant of the virus.
The Delta variant has sent cases and hospitalizations soaring, and while the surge has been overwhelmingly amongst the unvaccinated, breakthrough infections have been happening to fully vaccinated people.
On Twitter, people had no time for Donalds' nonsense.
@JaredHuffman To enter the building everybody should show their vaccination cards. Even Fox News is doing that (whi… https://t.co/Tz7B2RSK01— Content (@Content) 1627493469.0
@ByronDonalds @All435Reps @JaredHuffman @brikeilarcnn @ChrisCuomo So protecting public health is not a concern to y… https://t.co/jJ7P4abOYM— Diogenes' Philosophical Stunt (@Diogenes' Philosophical Stunt) 1627496428.0
@ByronDonalds @JaredHuffman @brikeilarcnn @ChrisCuomo You not wearing a mask is his business. I've spent the last… https://t.co/VoCPdqPmwF— Tan Dump Lord (@Tan Dump Lord) 1627510081.0
@ByronDonalds @JaredHuffman @brikeilarcnn @ChrisCuomo Insisting that the world is flat and no one cares is "free th… https://t.co/7pASgOpdxg— Jesse V Coffey, #ASMSG Member (@Jesse V Coffey, #ASMSG Member) 1627516301.0
@ByronDonalds When 'your business' is infecting others with COVID because you don't give a damn about anyone else....😠— Amie King (@Amie King) 1627507071.0
@ByronDonalds Florida man who will risk his beautiful family and others because he's free thinking? Not very pro life now is he?— annieG Wear your mask Smith (@annieG Wear your mask Smith) 1627503342.0
@ByronDonalds Hey you want to get covid and possibly die or suffer the long covid effects that’s on you but don’t c… https://t.co/5ODRqCmUZs— Cara 🌊💙 (@Cara 🌊💙) 1627523574.0
Donalds has been joined by several of his fellow Republicans, like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Colorado Representative Lauren Boeber, in decrying the new masking public health recommendations.