Speaking at a press conference Thursday afternoon, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden urged U.S. governors to mandate public face mask use for all Americans "for the next three months at a minimum." Biden claimed the move would save "40,000 lives". It's worth noting that the presidential election occurs in three months.
Newly minted running mate Kamala Harris then took to the stage, claiming, "We just witnessed real leadership."
Biden claimed that this guidance was based on remarks he heard in a briefing by public health experts in a panel discussion earlier today in Wilmington, Delaware. His vision for a masked nation, regardless of the unsettled science around the safety of mask use, drew swift criticism online.
President Trump has opined on the matter, saying he's a "fan of masks," but he prefers to let the states decide whether to mandate usage. Trump weighed in on Biden's stunning announcement at a press conference later in the afternoon.
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