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As President Donald Trump continues to make public appearances without a face mask, his daughter Ivanka Trump on Thursday said she wears a mask at the White House so her father doesn't have to.
When asked about the president's refusal to wear a mask, Ivanka Trump told USA Today "there are different procedures as it relates to interacting with the president," such as "no one is in close proximity to him that isn't wearing a mask."
Trump's daughter also defended her father's decision not to wear a mask at the White House by claiming that it is unnecessary. The president "is tested on a daily basis—all those who come into contact with him are tested on a daily basis," she said. "I always wear a mask when I am with the president, and everyone is instructed to do so as well."
The president has faced increasing backlash in recent weeks for ignoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendation for all Americans to wear masks in public.
Trump failed to wear a mask during a visit to a Pennsylvania medical equipment distribution center on Thursday. His decision not to wear a mask was particularly noticeable as other government officials that accompanied him during the trip, including Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Rear Adm. John Polowczyk, were seen wearing masks in photos.
While the White House has ordered officials to wear a mask in the absence of social distancing, Trump has yet to be seen on camera wearing one. Faced with criticism, the president has defended his decision not to wear a mask and claimed that wearing one could hinder his job performance. "I'm supposed to make a speech. You'll tell me: Should I leave the mask on when I'm speaking?" he said last Tuesday.
The president and his aides chose not to wear a mask during their visit to a Honeywell plant in Phoenix, Arizona last week despite the factory's policy that requires all employees to wear one at all times.
"Please wear your mask at all times," read signs around the facility that's currently manufacturing N95 respirations for the Trump administration. A White House official later claimed that the factory had said Trump and officials were not required to wear a mask during their tour.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment. This story will be updated with any response.
As of May 14, more than 1,456,000 individuals had tested positive for coronavirus in the U.S., with roughly 86,800 deaths caused by the new disease and 317,000 recoveries.
