Ted Cruz’s aides said he was having coffee when the photo was taken.
Washington:
American Airlines said Monday that it had contacted Republican Senator Ted Cruz about his coronavirus prevention policies after a photo of the Texas legislator without a mask on a flight went viral on social media.
“While our policy does not apply while eating or drinking, we have contacted Senator Cruz to affirm the importance of this policy as part of our commitment to protect the health and safety of the traveling public,” AA said in a statement.
Cruz’s aides told the US media that he was having coffee the moment the photo was taken.
The senator holds a cup of coffee and a phone in the photo, but there is no mask in sight.
“For the well-being of our clients and team members, we require the use of face covers on board,” said AA.
“We expect our clients to comply with our policies when they choose to travel with us.”
The company declined to say which flight Cruz traveled on Sunday, and whether or not he wore a face mask while not drinking his coffee.
Wearing a mask in the United States has become politicized in recent months.
For months, President Donald Trump did not wear one in public: He was only seen in one for the first time on Saturday when visiting a military hospital.
Health experts and scientists have called on American politicians to lead by example as the coronavirus pandemic breaks out in the United States, particularly in Sun Belt states like Texas.
Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott has made wearing masks mandatory in public places, a move he has long resisted implementing.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated channel.)
.
