Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden went viral on social media after lowering his protective face mask to cough into his hand before covering his face again.
The former vice president, who has been known to consistently wear a facemask since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, did so while addressing supporters during a drive-in campaign event in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Friday.
A clip of Biden removing the mask to cough into his hand went viral on Twitter.
Have a great weekend, everyone! pic.twitter.com/MZTlxASo1x
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) October 10, 2020
Netizen reaction can be divided into two groups: some criticized and condemned Biden’s move, while others defended the candidate, arguing that the event was outdoor and all attendees had been tested.
Every single time I have seen him speak, he has coughed into his hand..............NUMEROUS TIMES. What is wrong with him? Why does he cough all the time?
— Dawn Miller (@truebluecanadi1) October 9, 2020
You can't make this up.
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) October 9, 2020
Joe Biden just removed his mask to cough in his hand.
Talk about unsanitary! pic.twitter.com/4rwJvHA3LS
Joe Biden has rendered his mask useless at this point pic.twitter.com/p0o8Z58Ngf
— Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) October 9, 2020
Thank God Joe Biden is wearing his mask incorrectly to protect the people inside these cars. pic.twitter.com/phBdBqkD0Z
— Andrew Clark 🎃 (@AndrewHClark) October 9, 2020
Pre existing cough. Nursing home is his perfect place .....📌 pic.twitter.com/P9hhV4QWtQ
— Eng_Mohammed® (@Eng_Mohammed33) October 9, 2020
Everyone was tested and it was an outdoor event.
— Nickarama (@nickaramaOG) October 10, 2020
I never cough or sneeze into a mask. Do both into my in er elbow. That should be the advice everywhere. Far better than doing either into a mask.
— Emma Woodhouse (@EWoodhouse7) October 9, 2020
Your guy wears no mask, knows he tested positive, spreads it all around without care for anyone, forces all WH and secret service to stew is his infection & you are up to 30 positives in your super spreading incompetence.
— Suzanne Lindbergh (@suzannebuzz) October 9, 2020
No one on the Biden campaign has ever been positive.
Remind me again who has Covid-19
— xanadu 🇺🇸 (@XanaduNow12) October 10, 2020
In March, at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in the US, Biden coughed into his hands during a virtual interview from his home on CNN and was told by host Jake Tapper that he was “supposed” to cough into his elbow instead of his hand.
CNN's Jake Tapper just had to show Joe Biden how to properly cough during their interview. pic.twitter.com/SdA7Be69TW
— Francis Brennan (@FrancisBrennan) March 24, 2020
