ADADWhile Pence acknowledged the rising numbers of cases in the South and the West, he sought to play down the threat while heaping praise on Trump for how he has handled the pandemic. Trump did not attend the briefing, which, unlike similar presentations early in the pandemic, was not held at the White House. He and federal health officials said the onus is on Americans to act responsibly and heed the advice of their local and state leaders, since conditions and risks differ across the nation. Pence, when pressed by a reporter, declined to recommend that all Americans wear masks as public health officials advise, instead urging people to listen to their local health officials and pray. Trump refuses to wear a mask in public, calling it unpresidential, and the question has become increasingly partisan.

Source: Washington Post June 26, 2020 19:38 UTC