Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden says that those who downplay the importance of wearing a face mask bear the responsibility if they contract COVID-19.
NBC News’ Lester Holt asked the former vice president during Monday night’s NBC News town hall if he agrees with a poll showing 65% of Americans believe President Donald Trump “bears some responsibility for contracting this virus.”
Biden responded, “Anybody who contracts the virus by essentially saying, ‘masks don’t matter, social distancing doesn’t matter,’ I think is responsible for what happens to them.”
The Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden also appeared to point to the president’s return to the White House on Monday evening from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
“I hope no one walks away with the message it’s not a problem. It’s a serious problem,” Biden said.
An ABC News/Ipsos poll released on Sunday also found that 72% of those polled said the president did not take “the risks seriously enough” with COVID-19 and did not take “appropriate precautions regarding his personal health.”
Watch Biden’s remarks below:
.@LesterHoltNBC: "65% of Americans think the president bears some responsibility for contracting this virus. Do you agree?"
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 6, 2020
Joe Biden: "Anybody who contracts the virus by essentially saying, 'masks don't matter, social distancing doesn't matter,' I think is responsible." pic.twitter.com/xlOgyaxg61
Trump returned to the White House days after he went to Walter Reed on Friday to be treated after he was diagnosed with the coronavirus. However, following his return, he was met with backlash.
The president faced criticism after he removed his mask when he was on the White House’s South Portico.
Biden took a swipe at the president as well as he tweeted a video showing Trump taking off his mask while Biden put his mask on. The video read, “Masks matter. They save lives.”
See the video below:
Wear a mask. pic.twitter.com/TSuLuzAXEB
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 6, 2020
In a video following his return to the White House, Trump said, “Don’t let it dominate you. Don’t be afraid of it.”
“I’m better, and maybe I’m immune — I don’t know,” he said, adding, “Get out there. Be careful.”
First Lady Melania Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis was made known at the same time as the president. She said on Monday that she is “feeling good” and “will continue to rest at home.”