The city of Washington, DC, is investigating President Trump’s unmasked appearance in the lobby of the Trump International Hotel on Monday, a direct violation of DC’s coronavirus mandates.
In a video that appeared on social media Tuesday, the president can be seen shaking hands and standing near other members of the Republican Party, many of whom were not wearing costumes.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser established mask mandates and social distancing regulations in May, requiring people to wear masks in public places, including hotel lobbies, and practice social distancing measures such as being at least 6 feet away from each other to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
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The US Capitol has seen low rates of coronavirus compared to other parts of the country, with 11,000 confirmed cases and 580 deaths since the pandemic began, according to data from John Hopkins.
President Trump did not wear a mask when meeting with North Carolina Congressional candidate Madison Cawthorn, who was also unmasked in the downtown DC lobby.
An ABC News Tuesday report also revealed several occasions when hotel staff and guests breached DC mask mandates.
The report found that a frequent visitor to the hotel, Greg Aselbekian, planned a “No Masks Allowed” birthday party this month, alleging that he is “tired of being unconditionally locked up like animals,” on a page of the Facebook event, although the event page seemed to have been canceled
Enthusiastic Trump supporters, such as My Pillow CEO Michael Lindell, have also posted photos of themselves without masks in the lobby of the Trump International Hotel.
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The city’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) dispatched an inspector to the hotel on Wednesday. ABRA has the ability to fine any establishment that serves alcohol and does not comply with the city’s coronavirus mandates.
“This afternoon, an ABRA investigator visited the Trump International Hotel and found no Phase Two violations,” the agency told Fox News in a statement. “During the inspection, guests and staff were observed wearing face masks and covers in accordance with the Mayor’s Order.”
“Reports are only generated when an inspector observes the violations in person. ABRA will continue to monitor compliance with the establishment. ”
Masks have become a politicized issue amid the coronavirus pandemic, as Trump sent mixed messages about the importance of wearing masks. Although in recent weeks, members of the Republican Congress have been talking and urging Americans to wear masks as coronavirus cases have skyrocketed.
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President Trump, who refused to wear a mask publicly during the first months of the pandemic, posted a photo on social media of him wearing a mask, and again encouraged people to wear one on Tuesday while speaking at the daily coronavirus press.
The DC mayor’s office could not immediately be reached for comment.
