Trump Now Says Face Masks Are Patriotic But Twitter Users Aren't Impressed

The president's tweet managed to combine sensible medical advice (wear a mask) with a xenophobic dog whistle (“the Invisible Chinese Virus”).
LOADINGERROR LOADING

It’s been more than four months since the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. and President Donald Trump is finally advocating that Americans wear face masks.

Trump’s handlers praised him profusely after he donned a face mask on July 11 while touring Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. On Monday, the president tweeted a photo of himself wearing a face mask.

The accompanying tweet was an odd mix of sensible medical advice (wear a mask) and xenophobic dog whistle (referring to the coronavirus as “the Invisible Chinese Virus”).

Oh, and he referred to himself as “your favorite President”:

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. There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President!”

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. There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President! pic.twitter.com/iQOd1whktN

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2020

Not surprisingly, many Twitter users couldn’t mask their contempt for the president’s statement, which came months after it might have been helpful.

He found possibly the worst way to do the bare minimum. https://t.co/ZPmqK6Sdzw

— John Iadarola (@johniadarola) July 20, 2020

After months of mocking mask use and watching Covid cases climb, Trump finds a racist way to change his tune.

This guy can never admit he was wrong. Did the same thing when he fessed up to his lie about Obama's birth certificate in 2016 and tried to blame Hillary Clinton for it. https://t.co/5ArNBffV8H

— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) July 20, 2020

You're too late to convince us you care. https://t.co/IEYFAlKUf0

— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) July 20, 2020

Backtracks on his own anti-mask stubbornness far too late and manages to dog whistle at the same time. This man has blood on his tiny hands and his lack of compassion is nightmarish. We can't wait to see the back of you. https://t.co/fw3HdWCNVL

— Christopher Johnson (twitch.tv/OfficialCDJ) (@OfficialCDJ) July 20, 2020

It took you three months. And how many cases have there been since then? How many deaths? Take the word patriot out of your mouth. https://t.co/ZJoSwzn2wX

— Aaron Vallely (@Vallmeister) July 20, 2020

There are 329,227,745 Americans more patriotic than you. https://t.co/v3o3rXrSjB

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) July 20, 2020

Jan: "It’s 1 person coming in from China."
Feb: "it miraculously goes away.”
Mar: “I don’t take responsibility at all.”
Apr: Inject disinfectant
May:“This is going to go away without a vaccine.”
June: "it's dying out"
July: Still no mask

You're 145,000 dead Americans too late. https://t.co/vLQF4hFuh1

— Chip Franklin (@chipfranklin) July 20, 2020

Put aside the ridiculous politics and hypocrisy of this, and just focus for a moment on the words. "Many people say". "Your favorite President". Which other adult do you know who speaks like this? How are Trump voters okay with blindly following (worshipping?) this man-child?? https://t.co/Dvmp5L3dmp

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 20, 2020

Democracy In The Balance

Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down.

Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can't do it without you.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

Can someone tell him it’s *not* patriotic to scapegoat Asians for his failed pandemic response? https://t.co/1qGDdORDsa

— David E. Ryu (@davideryu) July 20, 2020
Close

What's Hot