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.
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! pic.twitter.com/iQOd1whktN
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2020
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.
She added, “I am hopeful that he will seize this opportunity. In the meantime, be smart, be safe and mask up, America.”
Whitmer previously issued a mask order requiring businesses open to the public to deny entry or service to people if they are not wearing masks.
According to a statistic provided by Whitmer, wearing a mask will reduce the likelihood of spreading the coronavirus by 70%.
She went on to provide evidence suggesting a nationwide mask mandate could substitute for economic lockdowns.
Whitmer acknowledged Trump’s push to reopen schools while reiterating she will not send students and staff back to the classroom unless it is safe.
“I am not sending kids and our education work force into our schools unless it is safe to do so,” Whitmer said.
She continued, “And the most effective way we can protect our students and the millions of dedicated educators across the country is to ensure we all mask up now. This can be accomplished best through a federal mandate.”