Trump orders journalist to remove face mask but he refuses in White House showdown

Reuters reporter Jeff Mason refused to remove his mask.

Donald Trump ordered a reporter to remove his face mask but the journalist refused during a showdown at the White House. The US president cut off Reuters' Jeff Mason, despite the reporter speaking clearly, to tell him his question was too muffled. Despite Trump becoming visibly irritated by his subsequent refusal to take off his mask in the press pool, Mason simply raised his voice even louder. After he'd initially begun speaking, Trump said: "You're going to have to take that off, please. You can take it off. How many feet are you away?"

When Mason said he would instead speak louder, the president said: "Well, if you don't take it off you're very muffled, so if you would take it off, it would be a lot easier."