President Joe Biden was seen wearing a mask outside just days after saying that fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to wear a face covering when they are outdoors.
A video posted by the Republican National Committee (RNC) showed the president, who has been fully vaccinated, talking to two other people. Biden puts a mask on while talking despite being outdoors. (RELATED: ‘Clinging To His Mask Like A Security Blanket’: NY Post’s Miranda Devine Faults Biden’s ‘Terrible Job’ Selling COVID-19 Vaccine)
Fully vaccinated Joe Biden puts his mask on outside standing next to two vaccinated, masked Democrats pic.twitter.com/sR0EavYWsj
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 18, 2021
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initially updated its mask guidance in April to reflect that fully vaccinated Americans did not need to wear a mask during small outdoor gatherings with other vaccinated people. The organization updated its guidance for a second time Thursday and now says that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask in most indoor and outdoor settings, including settings with unvaccinated people.
The administration subsequently lifted its mask mandate for fully vaccinated media, guests and staff at the White House. Biden issued an ultimatum following the CDC’s updated guidance, telling Americans that they must “get vaccinated or wear a mask until you do.”
“The choice is yours,” the president said.
When Biden was questioned about why he insists on wearing a mask around other vaccinated people during a press conference May 7, he told reporters that it is still “good policy” for vaccinated people to wear masks indoors. His comment was made just days before the CDC said vaccinated people no longer had to wear masks in most indoor settings.
“Why am I wearing the mask? Because, when we’re inside, it’s still good policy to wear the mask. That’s why,” the president said.
“When I’m outside — and the problem is: Lots of times, I walk away from this podium, you notice, I forget to put my mask back on because I’m used to not wearing it outside.”