President Donald Trump's former physician Dr. Ronny Jackson, who won his primary bid in Texas after being endorsed by the president, said Wednesday that he doesn't think Americans should be required by law to wear masks to slow the spread of coronavirus, and admitted he doesn't often wear one himself.
“I think that wearing a mask is a personal choice, and I don’t particularly want my government telling me that I have to wear a mask. And so I think that’s a choice that I can make,” Jackson said on Fox News' “Fox & Friends.” "I encourage people if they want to wear a mask, wear a mask, but I don't wear a mask all that often, to be honest with you."
Jackson, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral who also served as the personal doctor for former President Barack Obama, with his comments contradicted public health experts and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has enacted a face mask order for most of the state.
"We know a lot about this virus now," said Jackson. "We know the mortality rate is less than .01%. It doesn't affect children. If they do get it they don't get sick."
Meanwhile, Jackson said it was "huge" to have Trump's endorsement, but also, his team had a grassroots effort and "all the enthusiasm.
"Having President Trump's endorsement is huge in this part of Texas," said Jackson. "This is Trump country up here and everybody loves our president."
Jackson said he got into the race because he's "disgusted" with what's going on in the United States and "frustrated" by the lack of support Trump has from the House and the Senate.
"He needs folks to get in there and have his back," said Jackson, adding that he believes in Trump's agenda.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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