Donald Trump has finally worn a face mask in public.
The US President was seen visiting Walter Reed military hospital outside Washington on Saturday (11 July) with a navy blue face covering.
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As he was leaving the White House, he said there were occasions where face masks were useful.
He told the press: "I've never been against masks but I do believe they have a time and a place.
"I think when you're in a hospital, especially in that particular setting, where you're talking to a lot of soldiers and people that, in some cases, just got off the operating tables, I think it's a great thing to wear a mask."
Trump previously wore a mask during a private tour of a Ford factory, but took it off as he came outside as he didn't want to give the press 'the pleasure' of seeing him wearing one.
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However, this represents a sea change from Trump's previous thoughts on the importance of wearing face coverings and comes as the US recorded 66,528 cases of Covid-19 on Saturday.
According to the latest figures, around 137,000 people have now sadly died in the US as a result of the disease.
In the past, Trump has ridiculed presidential challenger Joe Biden for wearing a mask, saying it was 'unusual' that he had one on while outside with his wife.
Responding to his criticism, Biden, 77, said the president was a 'fool' and that he was 'stoking deaths'.
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Speaking at the time, he said: "This macho stuff, for a guy - I shouldn't get going, but it just, it costs people's lives. It's costing people's lives.
"We're almost 100,000 dead today."
Adding: "Presidents are supposed to lead, not engage in folly and be falsely masculine."
This comes as almost half of US states order residents to wear masks while out in public.
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The states that now require coverings to be worn, include Connecticut, New York, Delaware, Illinois, New Mexico, Kansas, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Maine, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Michigan, Maryland, California, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington and West Virginia.
Louisiana is the latest to join the group, Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards ordering the closure of bars in the state.
Speaking about his decision, Gov Edwards said: "If you don't like the mask mandate, then don't like it while you wear your mask.
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"If you want to be mad at me about it, then be mad at me about it."
However, it is expected that Republican legislators will oppose the move.
Across the country, the question of whether or not people should be ordered to wear masks has become incredibly divisive, with numerous incidents of people having to be removed from shops and supermarkets for not wearing one.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Coronavirus, US News, Donald Trump