Michigan Governor Calls on America to ‘Mask Up,’ Urges Trump to Issue Nationwide Mandate

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is challenging President Donald Trump to stand behind his endorsement of masks and issue a nationwide mandate requiring all Americans to wear them.

Whitmer penned an op-ed published on Wednesday in The New York Times titled “Mask Up, America,” where she argued the only way for the nation to reopen the economy and schools is if everyone wears a mask.

She explained wearing a mask is not “a political statement” and acknowledged Trump has “begun to understand that.”

“Wearing a mask is not a political statement; it is about protecting our loved ones from the spread of this deadly virus.”

Whitmer noted Trump wore a mask during his visit to the Walter Reed military hospital this month.

She also recognized Trump’s tweet issued on Monday encouraging Americans to wear masks when they cannot socially distance.

“We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance. There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President!” Trump said.

Whitmer praised Trump for his statement and advised him to support it with a nationwide mandate on masks.

“I applaud his statement, and urge him to back it up by issuing a nationwide mask mandate like Michigan’s, requiring masks on public transport, indoors, or outdoors when a distance of six feet cannot be maintained,” Whitmer said.