Karine Jean-Pierre can’t explain why Biden was masked on Marine One
Haisten Willis
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The White House was not able to explain Wednesday why President Joe Biden exited Marine One wearing a surgical mask — a break from his recent habits.
Biden, who has repeatedly been accused of flip-flopping on pandemic policies, wore a black mask before boarding Air Force One for a trip to northern Kentucky.
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“Can you tell us why the president was wearing a mask when he stepped off Marine One?” a reporter asked press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “He doesn’t usually wear a mask, or at least we don’t see him wearing one when he gets off. He was wearing one, and so were some other aides who were traveling with him. Was he exposed to someone?”
Jean-Pierre said she hadn’t noticed the change and wasn’t able to explain what may have prompted it.
“I was on Marine One, and I put my mask on,” she said. “I can tell you this: Yesterday, he tested negative on an antigen test for COVID-19. That part I know.”
Biden said in September that “the pandemic is over” but promised two months later to veto any action from Congress that would end the national emergency over the virus. Most federal employees are also still teleworking, while the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program rests legally on COVID-19 being an emergency.
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The president tested positive for COVID-19 in July and worked remotely for a few weeks. He experienced only mild symptoms.