GOP committee chair: ‘It would help’ if Trump would wear a mask occasionally | TheHill

Sen. Lamar AlexanderAndrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderThe Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Facebook – NYC marathon canceled GOP warns against ramping down coronavirus testing Trump, GOP clash over new round of checks MORE (R-Tenn.) said Sunday that “it would help” if President TrumpDonald John TrumpFour men charged for trying to tear down Andrew Jackson statue in DC Video shows workers removed social distancing signs before Trump Tulsa rally: WaPo Biden slams Trump for not sanctioning Russia over Afghan militant ‘bounties’ intelligence MORE would wear a mask occasionally during the coronavirus pandemic.

“If wearing masks is important and all the health experts tell us that it is in containing the disease in 2020, it would help if from time to time the president would wear one to help us get rid of this political debate that says if you’re for Trump, you don’t wear a mask, if you’re against Trump, you do,” Alexander, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, told CNN’s “Inside Politics.”

When asked if the American public should look to Trump for public health advice, the Tennessee Republican said people should listen to health experts 

“My suggestion to the pesident all along and for the other political leaders is let the experts do the talking about medicine. People trust them,” Alexander said.

Trump has been hesitant to be seen wearing a mask in public, telling The Wall Street Journal that masks are “a double-edged sword” and suggesting they were being worn as a political statement by those against him. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people “should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public.”

Republicans seem split on the issue, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellThe risks of not spending far outweigh the risks of spending more White House denies it was briefed about Afghan militant bounties Ocasio-Cortez pitches interns to work for her instead of McConnell MORE (R-Ky.) saying people should keep wearing masks until there is a vaccine. Rep. Liz CheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyArkansas governor urges ‘consistent national message’ on wearing masks Liz Cheney tweets picture of Dick Cheney wearing a mask: ‘#realmenwearmasks’ GOP lawmakers voice support for Israeli plan to annex areas in West Bank MORE (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioPolice reform in limbo after Senate setback On The Money: Trump, GOP clash over new round of checks | Dow sinks more than 700 points as COVID-19 surge shakes Wall Street | Senate Dems raise concerns about debit cards used for stimulus payments Rubio: ‘Everyone should just wear a damn mask’ MORE (R-Fla.) both have advocated for wearing masks in the past week.

But some Republican governors, like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantisRonald Dion DeSantisUS hits 2.5M coronavirus cases as states tally record one-day highs Pence cancels Florida campaign bus tour as state continues to see rise in coronavirus cases Florida sets another one-day record with 9,585 new coronavirus cases MORE, have not issued requirements for masks to be worn in public, despite rising cases and other states taking that action.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiSunday shows preview: With coronavirus cases surging, lawmakers and health officials weigh in Trump renews vow on preexisting conditions after urging court to overturn ObamaCare Trump touts ratings for rally, Fox News town hall: ‘These are the real polls’ MORE (D-Calif.) told ABC’s “This Week” that a nationwide mandate for face masks is “definitely long overdue.”

Experts have said a face covering or face mask could cut the transmission of coronavirus by as much as 50 percent,  CNN noted.