On Wednesday, President Donald Trump was seen without a mask at a Texas fundraiser. Trump had travelled to the Lone Star State to talk about the oil and gas industry, specifically against Democrats’ clean energy policy.
The president’s action seemingly contradicts with his own words from just over a week ago: “[I]t is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance. There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President!”
Trump had also been seen wearing a mask on July 11 as he visited a Maryland military hospital, claiming to not want to harm the soldiers. However, the fundraiser at the Double Eagle Energy oil rig in Texas did not seem to enforce proper social distancing.
Recently on Monday, Trump had retweeted a video of Dr. Stella Immanuel, a Texas-based doctor and preacher, promoting the use of hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, as a cure for the coronavirus. The video has been removed by Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, but Immanuel continues to be outspoken in her beliefs, which in the past have included reptilians ruling over the nation and the Illuminati using Magic 8-Ball toys to involve children in witchcraft.
In the video, Immanuel disparaged the “fake doctors” who ran trial tests on the use of hydroxychloroquine and found it ineffective and stated that “you don’t need a mask.” She claimed that she had treated 350 patients with a hydroxychloroquine, zinc and zithromax “and nobody is dead.” Texas state records show that she received a Texas medical license last November.
Immanuel’s views on the COVID-19 crisis seem to align with Trump’s own views.
“I was very impressed with her and other doctors that stood with her,” said Trump.
Trump was to be accompanied to the fundraiser by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), but Gohmert could not attend as he had tested positive for COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health authorities recommend wearing a face mask and practicing social distancing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
