Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ripped the politicization of wearing a face mask to combat the coronavirus, saying only an "absolute moron who can't read" would do so.
Responding to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's order that everyone in the state must wear a mask, Schwarzenegger tweeted, "This is 100% the right move. This will help us beat this terrible virus. The science is unanimous - if we all wear masks, we slow down the spread and can reopen safely. It's not a political issue. Anyone making it a political issue is an absolute moron who can't read."
President Donald Trump told The Wall Street Journal this week that some people might choose to wear masks to show their disapproval with him, not for their health benefits, as several states grapple with increases in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Trump was spotted wearing a mask during a private tour of a Ford plant in Michigan last month, but he has been criticized for not wearing one more often — particularly since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other government health agencies recommend wearing one to help slow the spread of the virus that has killed more than 120,000 Americans.
Vice President Mike Pence has also caught heat for not wearing a mask when he appears in public while close to others.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.