Biden says new mask guidance 'a great milestone'

"I think it's a great milestone, a great day," he said.

"If you're fully vaccinated and can take your mask off, you've earned the right to do something that Americans are known for all around the world: greeting others with a smile," he said, flashing a brief smile himself.

Biden earlier shed his mask during a meeting with lawmakers, Republican Senator Shelly Moore Capito told reporters. "We heard all about it. The president took his off too," she said.

Some journalists at the White House also shed their masks.