Topline
President Trump, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, and Senior White House adviser Hope Hicks did not wear masks during an indoor service at a Las Vegas, Nevada, church on Sunday, just days after all being cleared to travel following Covid-19 diagnoses.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Key Facts
In videos and pictures from the service at the International Church of Las Vegas, Trump, Hicks, and McEnany were not seen wearing facial coverings:
According to the pool report, “several hundred” people packed the evangelical church for the service, which was held inside.
Trump, McEnany and Hicks all recently contracted Covid-19, part of an outbreak that enveloped the White House: Trump was cleared to resume public activities on October 10; McEnany said she was “clear” of the illness on Friday; and Hicks made her first public appearance since testing positive on October 15.
White House Social Media Director Dan Scavino was also in attendance at the Las Vegas service not seen wearing a mask.
Nevada recently loosened its requirements surrounding large outdoor and indoor gatherings, including churches.
The White House did not immediately return Forbes’ request for comment.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Crucial Quote
After not being seen in public wearing a mask for months, Trump has slowly shifted his stance on mask wearing, but he is still seldom seen wearing face coverings and continues to offer mixed directives about wearing one. “I think masks are OK,” Trump said during the first presidential debate. “You have to understand, if you look — I mean, I have a mask right here. I put a mask on when I think I need it. Tonight, as an example, everybody’s had a test, and you’ve had social distancing and all of the things that you have to.”
Surprising Fact
Trump mocked Joe Biden’s mask use during a rally on Saturday saying his “mask is always so large!”
Key Background
Since contracting Covid-19, Trump has repeatedly claimed he is “immune,” even though doctors say it may be possible to contract the disease more than once.
Tangent
On Sunday, Twitter removed a tweet from one of the president’s top Covid-19 advisers, Dr. Scott Atlas, doubting the effectiveness of masks.
Further Reading
Twitter Removes Tweet From Top Trump Covid Adviser Doubting Mask Effectiveness (Forbes)
Trump suggests he’ll leave the U.S. if he loses to Biden (Axios)
Source: Forbes – Business
