Trump Claims He Did Wear Mask During Arizona Mask Factory Tour: “Well, I Can’t Help It If You Didn’t See Me”

The Hill reports:

President Trump said Wednesday that he briefly put on a mask during a visit to a Honeywell factory in Phoenix but that the press didn’t see him. “I had a mask on for a period of time,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked why he didn’t wear a face covering during Tuesday’s visit to the facility, which produces respirator masks. “I can’t help it if you didn’t see me. I had a mask on, but I didn’t need it.”

Trump said he asked the head of Honeywell, Darius Adamczyk, whether he should wear a mask and was told he didn’t need to wear one. Trump said he put the mask for “not too long” and did so “backstage.” Trump and other officials visiting the plant Tuesday were not seen wearing masks, nor were the Honeywell executives who led the president and his aides on the tour of the facility.

TRUMP: “I had a mask on for a period of time”

REPORTER: “We didn’t see you in a mask”

TRUMP: “Well, I can’t help it if you didn’t see me”

President says he did wear mask at Honeywell mask factory visit pic.twitter.com/8RbUHWdxB0

— Zach Purser Brown (@zachjourno) May 6, 2020