Before he boarded Air Force One, President Donald Trump advised the people of America to think of themselves as warriors, adding that the country has to reopen. The last time he boarded Air Force One was back in March this year.
Contrary to the message Trump was trying to convey through his cross-country trip, many states have increased their restrictions, while only a few have witnessed a sustained drop in cases. According to the federal government, a prolonged reduction in cases is necessary before lifting the social distancing measures.
Even the president admitted that trying to reopen the economy could lead to an increased number of cases or deaths at a roundtable discussion that took place inside the Phoenix plant. Trump said that people are likely to be affected, while some will be affected badly, but reopening the country is necessary.
Setting an example for the rest of the people fighting the pandemic, Trump made a day trip to an Arizona-based Honeywell facility that makes N95 masks. It is worth mentioning here that the state is one of the important battlegrounds Trump is looking forward to winning in November's general election.
As Trump began delivering a speech at a factory, he reminded everyone about his 2016 election win. Interestingly, he decided not to cover his face with a mask while touring a facility that manufactures face coverings for health care workers who have a higher vulnerability to coronavirus.
Even while speaking with workers, he opted not to wear a mask, CNN Politics reported. A White House official justified this by noting that they were advised wearing masks weren't mandatory. Contradicting, a sign at the facility urged workers to cover the face with a mask.
Trump is waiting with bated breath to start campaign rallies, which were impossible due to social distancing measures in place. While he did not hold a rally on Tuesday, Trump toured the mask manufacturing company and delivered remarks.
Aside from that, he held a roundtable on providing the much-needed support to Native Americans, who have been affected badly by the pandemic. He also signed an executive action about the disappearance or killing of Native American women, an unrelenting crisis the federal government has been trying to address.
Meeting coronavirus patients or families of those who succumbed to the deadly virus wasn't included in his agenda. Trump admitted that he has spoken only to a few Americans who have lost family members to the virus.