This archive report was first published on 12 July 2020.
On Saturday, July 11, 2020, US President Donald Trump made a significant shift in his stance on face masks, wearing one in public for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump visited the Walter Reed military hospital outside Washington, where he met wounded soldiers and healthcare workers. During the visit, he donned a mask, stating, "I've never been against masks but I do believe they have a time and a place."
This change of tone comes as the US recorded 66,528 coronavirus cases on Saturday, a new daily record.
Trump's previous stance on face masks was one of opposition. In April, when the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended people wear masks or cloth coverings in public to help stop the spread of the virus, Trump told reporters he would not follow the practice.
"I don't think I'm going to be doing it," he said back then. "Wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens - I just don't see it."
However, in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump suggested that some people might wear masks to signal disapproval of him.
As the US continues to grapple with the pandemic, other states are taking measures to slow the spread of the virus. Louisiana has become the latest state to order that masks be worn in public, while neighboring Texas has recorded another rise of coronavirus infections.
