President Donald Trump is doubling down on his decision to hold holiday parties amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A reporter said the president has been holding parties with hundreds of people who are not wearing masks despite guidance from health experts.
He asked Trump why he is exhibiting a different behavior than what he is communicating to Americans.
“Well, they’re Christmas parties, and, frankly, we’ve reduced the number very substantially, as you know,” Trump said.
He added, “I see a lot of people at the parties wearing masks, and I would say that I look out at the audience at those parties, and we have a lot of people wearing masks, and I think that’s a good thing.”
Watch the video below:
Asked why the White House is holding in-person parties in violation of CDC guidance, Trump says, "well, they're Christmas parties." pic.twitter.com/3gy7BILpRX
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 8, 2020
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging Americans to stay home for Christmas, as IJR previously reported.
“The best thing for Americans to do in the upcoming holiday season is to stay at home and not travel,” the CDC’s Covid incident manager Henry Walke said during a press briefing Wednesday.
He added, “Cases are rising. Hospitalizations are increasing. Deaths are increasing. We need to try to bend the curve, stop this exponential increase.”
Trump is expected to sign an executive order Tuesday to guarantee Americans receive COVID-19 vaccines obtained by the United States before citizens of other nations, as IJR previously reported.
The number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the nation with an average of 201,778 cases per day over the past week, a 17% increase from the average two weeks prior.
