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Donald Trump awkwardly hugged an official after a failed handshake attempt upon arrival in Phoenix, Arizona, and ignored the mandatory mask signs while visiting a new medical mask factory.
Descending from Air Force One, the President extended his hand as an official waited to greet him before quickly pulling him away and grabbing the man’s arms in a quick hug.
He did not wear gloves or a mask during his visit to the Honeywell International Inc factory, which makes N95 face masks for healthcare workers.
Although he was photographed with a pair of glasses while looking at an assembly line.
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(Image: REUTERS)
With many Americans largely avoiding travel, it was a rare trip out of Washington for Trump to a state he hopes to win in the November election, but is currently behind opinion polls.
The facility entered service in less than five weeks due to a shortage of protective equipment, and the visit came when the president announced plans to shut down the White House coronavirus task force.
The president did not wear a mask at the factory, even though facility workers did, even after telling reporters at the White House that he probably would.
On the Trump tour you could see a sign that said: ‘Attention: a mask is required in this area. Thank you!’ – although Honeywell CEO Darius Adamczyk also did not wear a mask during the tour.
The federal government has encouraged Americans to wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus, even when they don’t feel any symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory illness it causes.
Until now, Trump has repeatedly refused to wear a mask.
(Image: REUTERS)
The president has tried to give an optimistic view of the country’s ability to recover from the virus and is eager for states to reopen companies whose shutdowns have crushed the economy and left millions of people unemployed.
In Arizona, Trump also participated in a discussion about supporting Native Americans.
He took the opportunity to argue that the United States economy should reopen quickly.
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“Are some people going to be affected? Yes. Are some people going to be seriously affected? Yes. But we have to open our country and we have to do it soon,” Trump said.
Speaking about his administration’s plans to reduce the White House coronavirus workforce as it focuses on a new phase, after the pandemic, he said: “Mike Pence and the workforce have done a great job but now we’re looking a little bit different and that way is security and openness and we will probably have a different group set up for that. “
When asked if he would receive a coronavirus vaccine as soon as one is developed, Trump said yes, but that he could also decide not to do so if it was considered better for the country.
“If there is a vaccine and they want me to be first in line, I would be first in line or I would be last in line, or I wouldn’t take it, whatever is best for the country,” Trump said.
The location of Trump’s first trip outside of Washington in weeks was no coincidence.
Trump won Arizona in the 2016 election against Democratic presidential nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but opinion polls show that he currently follows alleged 2020 Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, in the southwestern state.
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