Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) went off on a reporter asking why Republicans are not wearing masks.
“Just once, I’d like to see a reporter say to Joe Biden when he stands at the damn podium in the White House without a mask ‘Mr. President, why aren’t you wearing a mask?'” Cruz said.
He added, “Just once, I’d like to see you say to Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, when she stands at the podium with no mask, ‘Ms. Psaki why don’t you have a mask?'”
Cruz argued the questions “are only directed at one side and I gotta say the American people see the hypocrisy.”
Taking aim at President Joe Biden’s response to COVID-19, Cruz told reporters, “There’s been wild hypocrisy from the Biden administration when it comes to Covid policies.”
He then criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci for going back and forth on whether individuals should wear masks.
“At some point, the American people ought to be able to exercise their own freedom and make their decision,” Cruz said.
Sen. @tedcruz responds to a PBS reporter asking him why Senate Republicans aren't wearing masks: "Just once, I'd like to see a reporter say to Joe Biden when he stands at the damn podium in the White House without a mask 'Mr. President, why aren't you wearing a mask?'" pic.twitter.com/qUZFD3ePCZ
— Logan Ratick (@Logan_Ratick) January 11, 2022
The president remains confident in the administration’s response to the pandemic.
Biden told reporters Tuesday, “I’m concerned about the pandemic because it’s not slowing worldwide,” adding, “Thank God we’ve been able to generate federal help, administering all the help.”
He continued, “That’s what we’re doing now. I am confident we are on the right track.”
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Republican House Oversight Committee ranking member James Comer (R-Ky.) called for a joint committee hearing into Biden’s response to the pandemic, as Fox News reported.
“He promised to ‘shut down the virus,’” the Republicans wrote in a letter to House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn ( D-S.C.) and House Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.).
They added, “He promised ‘by next Christmas [2021]…I think that there’ll be significantly fewer people having to be socially distanced [and] have to wear masks…’ He promised to ‘improve the availability of tests.’”
The letter goes on, “He promised to not ‘demand that [the vaccine] be mandatory,’” the letter continued. “And he promised he had a national plan to ‘get this virus under control.’ He failed on all accounts.”
Fox News noted the Republicans demanded witnesses to appear, including Fauci and White House COVID response director Jeffrey Zientz.
