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(CNN) – President Donald Trump’s annual Thanksgiving proclamation calls on Americans to “come together” for the holiday, even though federal public health officials have explicitly warned.
The last line of the proclamation, issued by the White House press secretary’s office Wednesday night, reads: “I encourage all Americans to come together, in homes and places of worship, to offer a prayer of thank God for our many blessings. “
Public health experts warn that Thanksgiving could be “the mother of all super-spread events.” And the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against traveling for Thanksgiving as a means of preventing further spread of the coronavirus.
Coronavirus cases are increasing and public health officials are warning that family gatherings like Thanksgiving, which are often indoors and multigenerational, could put vulnerable people at risk.
According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 261,000 people have died from Covid-19 in the United States. More than 12.7 million people have been diagnosed with the virus, and the United States has set several new daily records for hospitalizations.
Although presidential proclamations on holidays are typically cursory statements issued by the White House, from time to time, they take on the political tone of the administration or current events. This year’s proclamation also included sections dedicated to addressing the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump has frequently disobeyed public health warnings and hosted large groups at the White House for events later deemed super-spreading, including a ceremony for new Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, after which the President gave positive for coronavirus.
And despite warnings from public health officials, including the U.S. Surgeon General, not to hold large gatherings, many of this year’s public and private White House holiday events are slated to take place. out smaller.
First lady Melania Trump oversaw the arrival of the White House Christmas tree without a mask on Monday, at one point posing for photos with tree farmers, who removed their own masks. And on Tuesday, an unmasked Trump pardoned a turkey in the White House rose garden in front of a masked crowd.
The first lady’s chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham, said Monday that many of the traditional White House parties will continue, but that there will be security precautions, including smaller guest lists and mask requirements, at indoor events. .
Invitations to the White House holiday parties began arriving at the Capitol and were received by Republican donors, two people who received them said. Sources said the invitations looked like any other year, not to mention coronavirus precautions. And last week, the first lady finalized the guest lists for parties with friends, family and staff, which will take place over several nights in mid-December.
This story was first published on CNN.com.
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