Republicans
Ted Cruz Made His Point When Refusing to Put on a Mask: ‘You’re Welcome to Step Away if You’d Like’
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas talked back to a reporter after the latter asked the senator to put on a mask during a press conference on Wednesday.
The news conference was held by Cruz and he was joined by his GOP colleagues in the Senate. During the press event, the senators discussed the immigration crisis at the country’s southern border.
As was captured on video, a reporter at the conference asked Cruz if he minded putting on a mask.
To this, the Texan senator responded that he does not wear a mask when talking to a TV camera. He then pointed out that he and his fellow senators have received the vaccine.
Following his response, the reporter tried to insist that Cruz should put a mask on, saying it would “make us feel better.”
The senator, however, talked back. He said that the reporter was “welcome to step away.”
Cruz then noted that the point of receiving a vaccine was so that he doesn’t have to wear a mask anymore.
Psaki Defends Cruz for Refusing to Wear Mask
White House press secretary Jen Psaki, who also chooses not to wear a face mask while conducting press briefings as the White House, defended Cruz’s reasoning. She said that if medical experts mentioned that she needs to wear a mask during press briefings, she would. However, she said she is following the guidelines set by experts and the same goes for President Joe Biden.
On Thursday morning, Cruz shared a video clip on Twitter of his interaction with the journalist at the briefing. He added a caption, saying that left-leaning reporters “have lost their minds.”
Back in October, the senator also went against wearing masks while at a gaggle just outside of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing room.
Back then, a reporter from CNN asked Cruz to wear his mask while delivering his remarks. To this, the Texas senator declined and said that he would not as he was about to talk on TV. He then told the reporter to “stand six feet apart,” adding that this is what the CDC guidelines recommended.
Cruz then said that wearing a mask was not needed as he was clearly standing at a spot that is six feet away from other people at the time.
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