After Months Of Opposition, Trump Calls Wearning Masks ‘Patriotic’

President Trump has explicitly come out in support of face masks, after months of opposing them and refusing to be seen wearing one in public. Trump tweeted on Monday that masks are “patriotic” and included a photo of himself wearing one.

“We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance,” Trump said in the tweet. “There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President!”

The statement of support for masks came around the same time Trump resumed giving frequent press briefings on the coronavirus pandemic. The move was seen as an admission that the outbreak remains a persistent problem for the U.S.

As recently as Sunday, Trump had been skeptical of masks as a significantly effective measure against the pandemic. While saying that he ultimately supported masks, Trump sent mixed messages and questioned the need for all people to wear them in public spaces.

“I don’t agree with the statement that if everybody wears a mask everything disappears,” Trump said in a Fox News interview. “All of sudden everybody’s got to wear a mask, and as you know masks cause problems, too… With that being said, I’m a believer in masks. I think masks are good.”