Cruz refuses to put on a mask when the journalist asks him at a press conference

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His. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward Cruz The Hill’s Morning Report: Biden does a homework on Harris at the border; press conference today, Senate Democrats pay tribute to victims of mass shootings Report The Hill’s 12:30 – Presented by Facebook – Vaccine Development COVID MORE (R-Texas) on Wednesday refused to wear a mask during a press conference on Capitol Hill after a reporter repeatedly asked him to put one on as a courtesy of the others in the room.

“Would you mind putting on a mask?” asked a reporter to Cruz as he headed for a microphone bench.

“Uh, yeah, when I talk in front of the TV cameras I won’t put on a mask,” Cruz replied. “And we’ve all been immunized, so …”

Cruz turned and gestured to several of his GOP Senate colleagues, including Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Who was behind him and was wearing a mask.

“It would make us feel better,” the journalist pressured Cruz.

Cruz told reporters, “Please recommend you leave. The full point of a vaccine … the CDC guide is what we’re following.”

Currently, guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that even those vaccinated continue to use masks because the vaccines are not 100% effective and it is unknown if the virus can still be spread by those who have received the vaccine.

It wasn’t the first time pandemic reporters had asked Cruz to wear a mask while talking to them and he refused.

In October, a CNN reporter asked Cruz if he would put on a mask during a gaglera in front of a Senate Judiciary Committee courtroom.

Cruz refused, saying he was six feet away from the others, so a face-covering was not necessary.

Federal health officials have said all Americans should continue to wear face masks while in public to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Some Capitol Hill Republicans have downplayed the effectiveness of the masks, questioning the science behind them, and in some cases have received reprimands from their Democratic counterparts for not wearing them on the ground.

Cruz was photographed on a plane in July without a mask on, a photograph his office said was taken for a short time while drinking.

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