Republicans, with exception of Trump, now push mask-wearing

 In Republican circles — with table exception of man who les party — debate about masks is over: It’s time to put one on.

As a surge of infections hammers South and West, GOP officials are pushing back against tion that masks are about politics, as President Donald Trump suggests, and telling Americans y can help save lives.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, on Tuesday bluntly called on Trump to start wearing a mask, at least some of time, to set a good example.

"Unfortunately, this simple, lifesaving practice has become part of a political debate that says: If you’re for Trump, you don’t wear a mask. If you’re against Trump, you do,” Alexander said.

It’s a rare break for Republicans from Trump, who earlier this month told Wall Street Journal that some people wear masks simply to show that y disapprove of him. And Republican nudges for public — and president — to embrace mask-wearing are coming from all corners of Trump’s party and even from friendly conservative media.

Both Vice President Mike Pence and Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell in recent days have urged Americans to wear one when y are unable to maintain social distance. Sen. Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican, told reporters it would be “very helpful” for Trump to encour mask us.

“Put on a mask — it’s t complicated," McConnell, R-Ky., urged Americans during his weekly news conference Tuesday.

Last week, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming tweeted a photo of her far, former Vice President Dick Cheney, wearing a disposable mask and a cowboy hat. She included mess: “Dick Cheney says WEAR A MASK #realmenwearmasks,” a hashtag that echoed words spoken earlier by Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Steve Doocy, co-host of a Trump-friendly morning show, “Fox & Friends,” said during an interview with House Mirity Leer Kevin McCarthy that he doesn’t “see any downside in president being seen more often wearing it.”

McCarthy, R-Calif., responded that, for upcoming holiday, “we could all show our patriotism with a red, white and blue mask.”

Jacksonville, Florida city where Trump is scheduled to accept his remination as Republicans' presidential candidate in August, anunced a mask requirement for indoor public s this week. president’s eldest son said new requirements were big deal.

“You kw, I don’t think that it’s too complicated to wear a mask or wash your hands and follow basic hygiene protocols,” Donald Trump Jr. told Fox Business on Tuesday.

Trump aides have defended president’s refusal to wear a mask by ting that he is regularly tested for coronavirus, as are his aides. Those outside ministration — including White House visitors and members of media who are in close proximity to him and Pence — are also tested.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany didn’t directly dress Republican calls for Trump to wear a mask in public more often, but ted that president has said in past he has problem wearing one when necessary.

But even with safeguards, virus has found its way into White House. A top aide to Pence, as well as a military valet to Trump, in May tested positive for virus.

Still, mask us remains rare in West Wing, said Rep. Br Sherman, a California Democrat who attended an intelligence briefing at White House on Tuesday with senior members of president’s staff.

At briefing, which he said included about eight White House staffers, only national security viser Robert O’Brien wore a mask, Sherman said. He ded that one in secure briefing room was able to maintain 6 feet (1.8 meters) of social distancing, as recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“I learned something major, and that is White House is a mask-free zone,” Sherman told Associated Press. “ president is consistent. He’s fine with people t wearing masks.”

Polls show how partisan divide on masks has seeped into public opinion.

vast majority of Democrats think people in ir community should wear a mask when y are near or people in public places at least most of time, including 63% who say y should always, according to a Pew Research Center poll published in early June. Among Republicans, 29% say masks should be worn always, and 23% say y should be worn most of time. Ar 23% say masks should rarely or never be worn.

Trump has been caught on camera once wearing a mask. But Pence and members of White House coronavirus task force frequently appear in public wearing masks.

“If you want return of college football this year, wear a face covering. If you want a chance at prom next spring, wear a face covering,” Surgeon General Jerome ams urged Americans.

Over course of crisis, government has sent mixed messs on masks. As first COVID-19 cases were identified on U.S. soil, top public health officials insisted masks should be reserved for front-line workers.

In early April, CDC issued a recommendation that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where or social distancing measures were difficult to maintain.

But Trump immediately undercut CDC guidance by flatly stating that he wouldn’t be following it, suggesting it would be unseemly for commander in chief to wear one as he meets with hes of states.

Or world leers, including Cana’s Justin Trudeau and France’s Emmanuel Macron, have worn masks in public and urged ir citizens to do same when y can’t maintain social distance

Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University, says he worries Republican calls for wearing masks “might be too late.”

“ public has received such mixed messs from ministration,” Gostin said. “I fear we may be stuck with coronavirus until it burns through American population and leaves hundreds of thousands de.”