Pelosi Says It’s ‘Definitely Long Overdue’ For Mask Wearing Mandate

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) conducts a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center on Friday, June 26, 2020. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images/POOL)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Sunday said that it’s “definitely long overdue” for a federal mandate on wearing masks as coronavirus cases spike in several states during an interview on ABC News.

After acknowledging that the Centers for Disease Control recommended the use of masks because it didn’t want to “offend the President,” Pelosi proceeded to tear into President Trump.

“And the President should be example,” Pelosi said. “You know, real men wear masks. Be an example to the country and wear the mask, not only to pro — it’s not about protecting yourself. It’s about protecting others and their families.”

According to the CDC, everyone “should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public” to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Trump, however, has yet to wear a mask in public.

On Sunday, Pence deferred to state and local officials when asked about wearing masks in public during an interview on CBS, echoing his remarks during the first briefing in nearly two months from the White House Coronavirus Task Force two days before.

“President Trump and I, after asking the American people to embrace 45 days to slow the spread, we issued guidelines to reopen America and since that day, nearly two months ago, we’ve made it clear that we want to defer to governors, we want to defer to local officials and people should listen to them,” Pence said on CBS.

Pence added in his interview on CBS that “we believe people should wear masks wherever social distancing is not possible.” The VP also claimed that he has worn a mask on “several occasions this week” and that Trump has done so as well.

Watch Pelosi’s remarks below:

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. “And the President should be example,” Pelosi said. “You know, real men wear masks. Be an example to the country and wear the mask, not only to pro — it’s not about protecting yourself. It’s about protecting others and their families.”

    Per Bill Maher, Trump is an orange orangutan…
    And we all know Trump is NOT a real man…
    Trump is an evil Chucky/Damien manbaby!

    AND

    Trump says he does NOT want to wear a mask…
    Just wait and see how much Trump will NOT want and hate to wear a ventilator!

    Addendum:

    Dear Speaker Pelosi,

    What are you going to do wrt to Trump’s enabling or conspiring with Putin and then lying about not being briefed by Putin’s bounty on US soldiers in Afghanistan?

    Addendum:

  2. Prudent, rational, scientifically based, advice, Speaker Pelosi.

    And sure to fire Fat Nixon up…

    Well played…

  3. After acknowledging that the Centers for Disease Control recommended the use of masks because it didn’t want to “offend the President,”

    TPM, your edit of that info-bit has completely changed the meaning.

  4. [“And the President should be example,” Pelosi said. “You know, real men wear masks."]

    • And scuba gear when underwater
    • And crash helmets in auto races
    • And parachutes when jumping out of planes

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

56 more replies

Participants

Avatar for discobot Avatar for playitagainrowlf Avatar for sooner Avatar for cervantes Avatar for vonq Avatar for irasdad Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for joelopines Avatar for 26degreesrising Avatar for hagarwood Avatar for lastroth Avatar for leftcoaster Avatar for dickweed Avatar for benthere Avatar for pshah Avatar for tena Avatar for rocklaverve Avatar for forrestc1014 Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for birdford Avatar for maximus Avatar for carolson Avatar for emiliano4 Avatar for Hatmama

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: