President Trump on Monday tweeted a photo of himself wearing a face mask and said it was patriotic to wear one amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are united in our effort to defeat China’s Invisible Virus, and many people say it is patriotic to wear a face mask when you cannot socially distance yourself. There is no one more patriotic than me, your favorite president! Trump tweeted.
The message follows months that Trump avoided being seen in public wearing a mask, while promoting a message of reopening the economy after the closing of business in March and April.
High-ranking Republicans have recently urged more people to wear masks, arguing that it can allow businesses to safely reopen and curb the rise of infections across the South and Southwest.
Trump’s image appears to be from a visit to the Walter Reed Military Hospital near Washington this month. Trump gained rave reviews on social media for his appearance in a dark blue mask with a gold presidential seal.
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