The conflict between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) progressed after he expressed opposition to a mask mandate.
The Capitol Physician, Dr. Brian Monahan, announced in a memo on Tuesday the House would be reinstating its mask mandate amid the spread of the Delta variant.
“For all House Office Buildings, the Hall of the House, and House Committee Meetings, wearing of a well-fitted, medical grade, filtration face mask is required when an individual is in an interior space and other individuals are present,” Monahan wrote.
According to the new guidance, lawmakers are not allowed to enter the House chamber without a mask. Those who do enter without a mask will be fined.
McCarthy took to Twitter to react to the new guidance, saying, “Make no mistake—The threat of bringing masks back is not a decision based on science, but a decision conjured up by liberal government officials who want to continue to live in a perpetual pandemic state.”
Make no mistake—The threat of bringing masks back is not a decision based on science, but a decision conjured up by liberal government officials who want to continue to live in a perpetual pandemic state.
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) July 28, 2021
Meanwhile, Pelosi fired back at critics of the mask mandate.
“That’s the purview of the Capitol physician…nothing to say except we honor it,” the House speaker said.
When asked specifically about McCarthy’s reaction, Pelosi replied, “He’s such a moron.”
PELOSI on the backlash to mask mandates: "That's the purview of the Capitol physician…nothing to say except we honor it."
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 28, 2021
Q: @GOPLeader McCarthy says it's against the science.
PELOSI: "He's such a moron."
The House minority leader and Pelosi have had their fair share of back and forth recently amid the investigation of the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
A reporter asked Pelosi for her reaction to McCarthy saying he didn’t watch Tuesday’s January 6 select committee hearing. She responded, “Anytime you mention his name, you’re not getting an answer from me. Don’t waste my time.”
McCarthy accused Pelosi of destroying the credibility of the January 6 committee by rejecting two of his picks, as IJR reported.