Trump Supporters Fail to Socially Distance, Wear Masks at RNC Speech

President Donald Trump's supporters were not wearing face masks or social distancing as the commander-in-chief delievered his nomination acceptance speech outside the White House on Thursday night.

Footage and pictures from the final night of the Republican National Convention showed attendees on the South Lawn stood close together as they awaited the president, with only a handful wearing face coverings to curb the chances of them spreading the novel coronavirus.

Questions were also raised about the Trump campaign's seating arrangement, with images posted to social media showing little distance between the white chairs set outside the Oval Office last night.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines urge all Americans to avoid close contact with people not living in their household by standing or sitting at least 6 feet apart.

The public health body also advises Americans to cover their faces when around others, even if they do not feel sick, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

Posting pictures from the RNC's final day on Twitter, CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta said: "Very little social distancing. Very few masks in sight on the south lawn of the WH for Trump's speech."

Reacting to the images of Trump backers stood close together without face masks, U.S. Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico tweeted: "We're in the middle of a deadly pandemic and Republicans are gathered with no masks and no social distancing. This is how the president leads. It's just wrong."

Several other public figures also weighed in, with author Stephen King accusing the Trump administration of setting the "worst public example" on the coronavirus.

The Washington Post reported on Thursday night that more than 1,500 supporters attended the White House event, adding that the majority were not tested for coronavirus prior to being let onto the South Lawn.

Newsweek has contacted the Trump 2020 campaign for comment. This article will be updated with any response.

Addressing his supporters on Thursday night, the president used a 70-minute acceptance speech to attack Democratic nominee Joe Biden's record in office and sought to paint himself as the candidate best prepared to "defeat" the novel coronavirus.

"In recent months, our nation and the entire planet has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy. Like those brave Americans before us, we are meeting this challenge," Trump said.

"We are delivering lifesaving therapies and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even sooner. We will defeat the virus and the pandemic and emerge stronger than ever before."

At the time of writing, the U.S. has recorded more than 5.8 million cases of the novel coronavirus and 180,844 related deaths. According to the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 tracker, the U.S. death toll is the highest in the world as a flat number.