While President Trump has chosen not to wear a face mask in public, he changed his tune today in a tweet urging Americans to wear a mask if you cannot social distance.  The president wore a mask for the first time a week ago during his visit to Walter Reed, and is now reinforcing to his millions of followers that it is better to wear a mask.  

Face masks have become a political attacking point over the past few weeks, as Democrats pointed to Trump not wearing a mask as setting a bad example for Americans.  But for many Americans, the choice to wear a face mask should be their own, and not mandated by the federal government.  President Biden has said he would do everything in his power to enforce all Americans to wear a mask, but President Trump told Chris Wallace he will not make it a federal mandate.

Many states and localities have enforced wearing a face mask. In New York, businesses could face fines or the risk of being shut down if they allow customers in without a mask while also enforcing social distancing measures.  Other governors, however, are fighting back against their own local officials.  Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, for example, has prohibited cities in his state from enforcing mask orders. 

Political pundits are questioning President Trump’s decision to tweet a picture of himself with a mask, and his supporters have been quick to make mention on Twitter that they believe this was forced on him by his campaign and closest advisors, writing that they understand its for optics, but the mask mandate is a hoax.  

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