【?? ??? ??? ???】Enter to watch online.Trump's golf club press conference was a social distancing disaster — until the tweet

The ?? ??? ??? ???president held a surprise press conference at one of his golf clubs late Friday evening, and very few of the attendees wore masks — until Twitter shamed them about it.

During Friday's conference at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump spoke about a strange selection of topics, but did address the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which he repeatedly referred to as the "ChinaVirus."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

At the start of his speech, Trump encouraged Americans to continue social distancing, wash their hands, and wear masks. But just moments before he came out, a staffer was seen handing out masks out to the crowded audience made up of members the golf club, Associate Press correspondent Jonathan Lemire tweeted.

---

You May Also Like

---

---

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Despite clinical evidence that covering faces and maintaining at least six feet of distance drastically limits the spread of the coronavirus, few attendees appeared to come to the press conference with their own masks, much less be concerned with maintaining social distance.

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Few country club members wore masks to the president's press conference. Credit: JIM WATSON / getty images

Several of the reporters who were covering the event tweeted photos of the packed unmasked crowd awaiting the president, and it wasn't until those tweets picked up steam that President Trump's staff decided to hand out masks and ask the crowd to spread out.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In addition to being bad optics for the president who has struggled to maintain a consistent message on how best to contain the deadly virus, the crowded gathering may also not adhere to New Jersey's social distancing regulations.

Earlier this week, Gov. Phil Murphy decreased the maximum number of people allowed at indoor gatherings from 100 to just 25, regardless of the room's capacity. The change is applicable to weddings, funerals, memorial services, religious services, or political activities. Even exceptions, however, are limited to 25 percent of the room's capacity with a maximum of 100 people. People are also required to wear a mask in indoor commercial spaces that are closed to the public.

When the president opened the conference to questions, a reporter noted that many country club patrons were not initially wearing masks. Trump dismissed it, claiming that the gathering was a "peaceful protest."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Though they did issue loud "boos" at several points during the press conference, it was not at all clear what the president thought the group was protesting.

• fashion
• hotspot
• explore
• relaxation
• knowledge
• synthesize
• recreation
• focus

• Sen. Merkley Introduces ‘No Internment Camps’ Legislation
• The School of Hard Knocks
• Soundcloud changed its AI policy so it can train on users' audio
• Baby Yoda tags along on SpaceX's first operational mission for NASA
• Chen Withdraws from 39th District Congressional Race
• The angry Australian animal Australians are actually scared of
• Chinese EV brand HiPhi closes showrooms, weighs job cuts: report · TechNode
• NIO to start test production of first mainstream model in July: report · TechNode
• JA Groups Sign MOU to Support Confinement Site Consortium
• Xiaomi 15 smartphone set to debut with Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in October · TechNode

• Webb telescope might have found something the universe no longer makes
• CATL to offer skateboard chassis to Mazda's China joint venture · TechNode
• NASA rover snaps photo of its most daunting challenge yet
• What Ever Happened to GeoCities?
• Freaky asteroids flew by Earth, and NASA captured footage
• GPU Availability and Pricing Update: February 2022
• Best portable monitor deal: 51% off KRK GoAux 4
• How to Google Search Like a Pro: Follow These Tips
• Arkadium mini crossword answers for November 5
• Maurice Isserman’s Red Scare

• Manzanar Weekend
• The complexity of sending sounds to (and from) space
• AMD collaborates with TSMC for Zen 5 chips · TechNode
• BYD’s first supercar can dance, self
• California Police Arrest Suspects in Murder of Las Vegas Woman
• Icy moon Europa may glow in the dark, experiments suggest
• The climate hasn't hit a 'point of no return'
• Monstrous Hurricane Iota leaves scenes of disaster in Central America
• Diamond Celebration at Rafu Bussan
• BYD said to be launching cheaper Qin electric sedan amid price war · TechNode

• Donor of JA Incarceration Photos Receives WSU Honorary Alumna Award
• Two heavyweights clash in the Fat Bear Week finals
• Douyin joins low
• Chipmaker onsemi posts record revenue on strong demand for ADAS and SiC chip · TechNode
• Researchers Uncover Previously Unknown WWII Citizen Isolation Center
• Icy moon Europa may glow in the dark, experiments suggest
• This is the fattest of the fat bears
• China’s new communication satellites?to lay the foundation for 6G · TechNode
• He Has Plans for Alhambra
• Terminal Diagnosis