This archive report was first published on 12 July 2020.
On a visit to the Walter Reed military hospital outside Washington, US President Donald Trump wore a mask in public for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic on July 12, 2020.
Trump met wounded soldiers and healthcare workers during his visit, where he donned a mask, a stark contrast to his previous stance on face coverings.
"I've never been against masks but I do believe they have a time and a place," Trump said as he left the White House, marking a shift in his tone on the issue.
His change of heart came as the US recorded 66,528 coronavirus cases on Saturday, a new daily record, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Trump's previous stance on face masks was one of skepticism, with him saying in April that he would not follow the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) recommendation to wear masks in public.
However, in a Fox Business Network interview last week, Trump said, "I'm all for masks," and even joked about how he looked with one on, likening himself to the Lone Ranger.
But the reality of the pandemic has forced Trump to reconsider his stance, with the US seeing a surge in cases and deaths since the start of the outbreak.
As the situation in the US continues to deteriorate, with Louisiana becoming the latest state to order masks be worn in public, Trump's shift on face masks is a significant development in the country's response to the pandemic.
