Mark Meadows Shuts Down Reporters Who Demand He Wear a Mask

The fight over face masks and coronavirus continues this week, with even members of the President’s inner circle finishing themselves in controversial situations.

President Trump has repeatedly made it clear that he doesn’t want Americans to feel “dominated” by COVID-19; a stance that has drawn wide criticisms of the Commander in Chief.

But, then again, is there much that hasn’t drawn controversy to Trump?  This isn’t anything new, and having the Commander in Chief take the heat for his remarks has allowed other Republicans to similarly take a stand on issues that they feel strongly about.

Furthermore, there is a very important demographic among likely GOP voters who see cowering to coronavirus as the ultimate sin of any elected official, making it difficult for some within the Washington machine to display certain precautions.

Today, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows signaled his support for the President’s COVID message by abruptly stepping away from reporters who requested that he wear a mask.

On Monday, Meadows ran into reporters outside of Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing, and took his mask off to answer their questions. When they asked him to put his mask back on, Meadows did so — and then walked away, saying “I’m not going to talk through the mask.”

The incident was captured on video:

Here’s Mark Meadows refusing to talk to reporters with his mask on: pic.twitter.com/LlACGLd1ou

— The Recount (@therecount) October 12, 2020

There was further controversy surrounding COVID and today’s Supreme Court hearing:

Meadows wasn’t the only one in Washington refusing to wear a mask on Monday. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who tested positive for COVID-19 just 10 days ago, gave his opening statement at Barrett’s hearing without a mask on despite the fact that he could’ve done so from home.

President Trump, who was recently hospitalized after contracting COVID-19, is looking to return to the campaign trail this week, much to the dismay of the Democrats who’ve been claiming that it isn’t safe for him to do so.