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Melania Trump blasted for removing face mask to read book at children's hospital: 'She jeopardized kids' lives'

The White House later said: 'Wearing a mask is not required when a person is giving a speech... provided no one is within six feet... the First Lady was more than twelve feet away from others'

On Tuesday, December 15, Melania Trump removed her mask to read a holiday book to children at Children's National Hospital, flouting the center's Covid-19 mandate. 

The first lady had a mask on when she entered the hospital's main atrium. However, when she took her seat in front of the tree, she took her face-covering off. She did practice social distancing though. Regardless, the hospital's policy specifically requires all visitors to wear a mask. 

"Everyone must wear a mask at all times while in any Children's National facility to prevent the spread of COVID-19," the hospital's policy says, according to CNN. That includes "wearing a mask when entering any Children's National building, as mandated by area officials. This includes all public places, such as the hallway and cafeteria," and "wearing a mask at all times when you are around other individuals."

A White House readout of the event issued later on December 15, however, noted: "Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the event was limited in numbers of in-person participants and all guests were required to wear face masks and adhere to social distancing. The visit followed the hospital's mask protocols for public speakers, based on the District of Columbia health guidance, that wearing a mask is not required when a person is giving a speech for broadcast or an audience, provided no one is within six feet of the speaker. Throughout the holiday program, the First Lady was more than twelve feet away from others in the four-story atrium. Today's visit, broadcast to 325 inpatient hospital rooms, followed these guidelines."

When news of the FLOTUS going maskless at a children's hospital reached social media, she received a lot of flak for it. "BeBest, Melanoma. Be. Best," one of them commented, while another wrote, "Keep her away from sick children, from all children." A third said, "If I was one of those parents I’d be furious." One more remarked, "It’s really not hard to speak with a mask on. I see plenty of reporters doing it. I do it. Lots of intelligent people do it all the time. Intelligent."

The next tweeted, "A ridiculous excuse and that's why we are overwhelmed with sickness and death!!!" One more noted, "Believe them when they tell us they don’t care." The next added, "She doesn't even realize how compromised these children are to this covid virus." Another remarked, "OMG when are these people going to be out already." A commenter wrote, "Thank you @FLOTUS for making me glad again you’re leaving the WH." One infuriated user asked, "How was this allowed by the hospital?"

More angry responses followed. One of them wrote, "Very hard to believe she’s a mother." Another stated, "If my child was there, I’d look at a lawsuit for endangerment." The next quipped, "How hateful or uneducated (or both) does a woman have to be that she would jeopardize the lives and wellbeing of sick children???"

Children's National spokeswoman Diana Troese cited Washington, DC, health regulations in a statement to CNN. "Our number one priority at Children's National Hospital is the safety of our patients, families and employees. Under DC Health regulations, wearing a mask is not required when a person is giving a speech for broadcast or an audience, provided no one is within six feet of the speaker," she said. "In the case of today's visit which was broadcast to our 325 patients, while the First Lady did remove her mask while she read a story, she was more than 12 feet away from others in our large atrium. All other people in that space were wearing masks. The remainder of her visit, she wore a mask."