(Washington, D.C.) President Donald Trump addressed the country yesterday, embracing protective face masks for the first time since the pandemic forced the country to shut down back in March.
“It will probably unfortunately get worse before it gets better,” Trump said from the White House. But he also touted a reduction in deaths and progress on vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. He continued his recent encouragement of Americans to wear masks when social distancing is not possible.
“Whether you like the mask or not, they have an impact,” he said. “I’m getting used to the mask,” he added, pulling one out after months of suggesting that mask-wearing was a political statement against him.
President Trump also announced the return of his daily virus briefings, although he remained the only one at the podium. The public health experts who surrounded him in previous addresses were absent throughout. His address was largely scripted.
“The vaccines are coming, and they’re coming a lot sooner than anybody thought possible,” Trump stated.
