When asked about a nationwide mask order, the White House says it is leaving that decision up to localities
When asked whether President Trump is considering a nationwide mask order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at a briefing on Thursday that the administration is leaving that decision up to local governments.
Video Transcript
- On Wednesday, the CDC director said if, quote, if all of us were put on a face covering now for the next four weeks, six weeks, I think we could drive this epidemic into the ground. Admiral Giroir has made similar comments. The CDC director called it our, quote, major defense. I'm wondering if the president would consider at any point a nationwide mask order.
KAYLEIGH MCENANY: Well, the president has said that he would wear a mask if he was in a place where he couldn't be appropriately social distanced. He did wear a mask this weekend when he visited the hospital. So he has shown that he'll wear a mask. And not only that, that he would wear one if he wasn't socially distanced, as evidenced by his own actions.
We leave it to localities to make the decisions with regard to face coverings. And the CDC guidelines remain the same today-- recommended but not required.
