The First Lady appeared in a public service announcement released by the White House and the CDC to “recommend people wear cloth face coverings in public settings.” While she doesn’t actually put a mask on in the video, she did sport one on Twitter. While Melania advocates protecting yourself against coronavirus, as the CDC recommends, Donald Trump isn’t buying it.
“Wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens — I don’t know,” Trump said on April 3rd. “Somehow, I don’t see it for myself.”
As for Melania’s PSA, there are issues.
That's not a cloth face covering you're wearing, Melania. It’s a paper surgical mask. You know…the ones we're supposed to save for healthcare workers? ? https://t.co/aJxz65O7C6
— Mauricio Martínez (@martinezmau) April 9, 2020
Mostly concerned about the workers resurfacing the WH tennis court. What masks do you have them wearing?
— Brad Wollack (@BradWollack) April 9, 2020
While Melania’s PSA was a step in the right direction in terms of raising awareness on the importance of wearing a mask, she truly did the bare minimum here. She spends the entirety of the video holding the mask — never wearing it. But if she and the president don’t practice what she’s preaching how can she expect people to take her words seriously?
Perhaps in the next White House PSA she and the president will consider putting masks on themselves, or at least sharing some tips on how to make your own cloth masks, since many masks are sold out or reserved for medical professionals directly exposed to COVID-19.
Public health but make it fashion https://t.co/GbWpqXurvM pic.twitter.com/srM9KCqJKP
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) April 9, 2020