Trump attacks Biden on call for mask mandate

President Donald Trump is going after his political rival over a call for a nationwide mask mandate.

"We do not need to bring the full weight of the federal government down on law abiding Americans to accomplish this goal. Americans must have their freedoms," said Trump Thursday from the White House briefng room.

"I trust the American people and their governors very much. I trust the American people. And the governors want to do the right thing to make the smart decisions. And Joe doesn't. Joe doesn't. Joe doesn't know too much."

This comes after Democrat Joe Biden made the call Thursday, citing health experts’ predictions that it could save 40,000 lives over the next three months.

Biden and vice presidential running mate Sen. Kamala Harris spoke briefly after being briefed by public health and economic experts on the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic has caused the deaths of more than 166,000 Americans and plunged the global economy into the worst economic recession since World War II.