For months, health experts have implored Americans to wear masks or other facial coverings in public—one of the simplest, most effective precautions against spreading the virus that's killed nearly 200 thousand Americans.
Since first announcing updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urging mask usage, President Donald Trump has repeatedly dismissed or contradicted these recommendations, leading many of his supporters across the nation to do the same, sometimes at their peril.
As recently as Tuesday, the President retweeted a video of senior citizens—one of the hardest-hit groups by the virus–dancing to Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It," removing their masks in protest.
So when Trump appeared at an ABC News Town Hall that night to answer questions from socially distanced prospective voters, the President was inevitably asked about why he hasn't issued a national mask mandate and why he hasn't worn a mask more often himself.
Watch below.
The President attempts to blame Joe Biden for not implementing a national mask mandate pic.twitter.com/nq9J6cVFoR
— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) September 16, 2020
The President tried to lob these criticisms against his opponent, Democratic nominee Joe Biden:
"I will say this, they said at the Democrat convention, they're gonna do a national mandate. They never did it, because they checked out and they didn't do it. And a good question is you ask, like, Joe Biden...He didn't do it. He never did it."
Biden, along with Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, announced at the Democratic convention that if elected, Biden would order the nation's governors to institute a nationwide mask mandate in their states.
But while Biden has influence, he's still as of yet a private citizen, and cannot issue mandates to governors. He has, however, encouraged governors to issue these mandates on their own.
A terse tweet from Biden's official Twitter account reminded Trump that Biden is not yet President—and the Biden camp used the moment to encourage donations to his campaign.
To be clear: I am not currently president. But if you chip in now, we can change that in November: https://t.co/eFS4tDfHEx https://t.co/ciqFcIGLHB
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 16, 2020
Biden's supporters applauded the response.
Biden with the clap-back plus follow-up: https://t.co/3LJnqgkEil
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) September 16, 2020
Brilliant. https://t.co/UGQAqp1eKl
— John Aravosis 🇺🇸🇬🇷🏳️🌈 (@aravosis) September 16, 2020
Seems clear to me. https://t.co/e8NwTVq9UT
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) September 16, 2020
Trump is literally handing this to Biden's team.... https://t.co/JLzFggJiOr
— LV ✂️🌊 (@LV_doeshair) September 16, 2020
Others were flummoxed at what Trump expected Biden to do as a candidate.
"He never did it," Trump says, speaking of Biden not implementing a national mask mandate. That's true. A man who currently has no formal political power did not implement sweeping legislation. Compelling critique from the man who is...*checks notes*...currently the president. https://t.co/0TmhyXDkqU
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) September 16, 2020
The only explanation I have here is that he does not understand what a mandate is https://t.co/hCDBd9x6pM
— rabia O'chaudry (@rabiasquared) September 16, 2020
Hey @realdonaldtrump ... this just in, YOURE the POTUS, ffs!!! https://t.co/roUBXUlZQB
— Andrew Zimmern (@andrewzimmern) September 16, 2020
Ordinary citizen Donald Trump calls out the Biden Administration's failures to lead the nation on a coronavirus response. https://t.co/rZVOFqR0cN
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) September 16, 2020
I think its worth pointing out that Joe Biden is not currently president https://t.co/XS0MrleA1A
— Rob Flaherty (@Rob_Flaherty) September 16, 2020
It won't be until after November 3 that Americans learn whether or not Biden will remain a private citizen or ascend to the Presidency.
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