President Donald Trump attended a fundraiser in Texas on Wednesday without a mask and no obviously enforced social distancing as coronavirus cases surge in the state.
Trump traveled to the Double Eagle Energy oil rig in Texas to speak on the oil and gas industry, railing against Democrats’ clean energy policies.
As of Wednesday, the US has more than 4.4 million confirmed cases, and the death toll surpassed 150,000. In the state of Texas alone more than 421,000 coronavirus infections have been reported, and nearly 6,800 people have died from COVID-19.
Trump said he was “all for” masks and has suggested it was “patriotic” to wear one after months of refusing to wear one in public and condemning its use as a political ploy.
Health experts have recommended wearing a face mask and practicing social distancing to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.