COVID-exposed Biden flouts White House mask rule as he stands just inches away from elderly Medal of Honor vet
WASHINGTON — President Biden remained maskless Tuesday in front of an 81-year-old vet while awarding him the Medal of Honor — flouting COVID-19 rules that the White House had just said Biden would follow.
Biden, 80 — whose wife Jill tested positive for the deadly virus Monday — removed his black KN-95-style mask during a prayer at the ceremony for retired Army Capt. Larry Taylor in the White House East Room, ahead of the president’s remarks from a lectern recounting the elderly honoree’s heroism in the Vietnam War.
Both men are considered to be at an elevated risk for the virus because of their age.
After giving his speech, Biden failed to put the mask back on as he approached Taylor and stood roughly 6 inches from him for about four minutes as the citation for Taylor’s award was read aloud.
The unmasked president then fastened the medal around Taylor’s neck before shaking his hand and abruptly leaving the room before the closing prayer.
As Biden left, the unmasked president gave a thumbs-up when asked about his wife’s health after she tested positive for the virus Monday and remained at their Rehoboth Beach, Del., vacation home.
The White House said the president himself tested negative Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Moments before Biden hosted the East Room event, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden would be wearing a mask indoors to protect others’ health unless speaking.
“Since the president was with the first lady yesterday, he will be masking while indoors and around people in alignment with CDC guidance,” Jean-Pierre said. “And as has been the practice in the past, the president will remove his mask when sufficiently distanced from others indoors and while outside as well.”
Taylor, a native of Chattanooga, Tenn., was honored for leading a helicopter crew to rescue stranded troops in 1968 despite having little fuel and facing enemy fire.
Last summer, Biden survived a coronavirus infection, which involved an initial illness in July followed by a “rebound” case that stretched into early August of last year.
The first lady’s diagnosis Monday has now plunged into doubt Biden’s planned international travel Thursday to India to attend a G-20 summit, followed by a stop in Vietnam Sept. 10.
