On Monday, 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden admitted that his proposal to implement a national mask mandate is unconstitutional.
Time and again, Biden has called for a federal mandate and often points out how such an action was a prime example of how he would handle the coronavirus pandemic differently as president than Donald Trump has.
Biden has repeatedly said Trump “failed to act,” but also admitted to CBS 5 in Arizona, “There’s a constitutional issue whether the federal government can issue such a mandate.”
Biden now says a national mask mandate is probably unconstitutional and he wouldn’t do it.
This is a full 180-degree reversal. pic.twitter.com/cSxo6Q5LCD
— Alex Marlow (@AlexMarlow) September 7, 2020
Biden Flip-Flops On National Mask Mandate
Biden added, “I don’t think constitutionally they could, so I wouldn’t issue a mandate.”
Last week Biden denied that he ever wanted such a mandate and insisted he was a “constitutionalist.”
The former vice president said he would ask state and local authorities to impose a mask mandate.
“I’m a constitutionalist,” Biden said. “You can’t do things the Constitution does not allow you the power to do.”
Yet during the Democratic National Convention, a national mask mandate was called for by Biden, a point he made clear and certain.
“We’ll have a national mandate to wear a mask,” Biden declared.
A week before the Dem convention, Biden even said Americans should wear masks while they are “outside.”
Two weeks ago, Joe Biden called for a “Mask Mandate Nationwide”.
Now he’s backtracking. pic.twitter.com/CTGZS5REw1
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) September 2, 2020
Would Biden’s Mandate Apply To Nancy Pelosi?
“Let’s institute a mask mandate nationwide,” Biden said. “Every single American should be wearing a mask when they are outside for the next three months at a minimum.”
Biden said that doing so was “your responsibility as an American.”
Would this “responsibility” apply to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi?
Would Joe Biden's national mask mandate apply to San Francisco Democrats getting their hair blown out?
?
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 2, 2020
The election is less than two months away. What position Joe Biden might take next on forcing Americans to wear masks is unknown. Stay tuned.