Joe Biden: For The Next 3 Months, All Americans Should Wear A Mask When Outside

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Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks Thursday after a coronavirus briefing with health experts and his newly named running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, at the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, Del. Biden took off his mask to speak.

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

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The former vice president said he would use the power of the executive branch to do everything possible to make mask-wearing in public a requirement — though mandates have come at the state level, and many governors have opted against such measures.

In remarks at a June event in Wilmington, Biden also said there should be better guidance from the administration around mask-wearing.

«We absolutely need a clear message from the very top of our federal government that everyone needs to wear a mask in public, period, he said.

But his statement Thursday was the most direct comment he’s given to date.

«It’s not about your rights; it’s about your responsibilities, Biden said. He tried to present the issue as a matter of patriotism to protect fellow Americans.

An NBC News/Survey Monkey poll in late July found a majority of Americans said they wear a mask in public, but there are clear partisan, racial and age divides. Far more Democrats, nonwhites and older people said they wear masks every time they leave the house.

Biden and Harris, his vice presidential pick, collectively spoke for about eight minutes Thursday, and walked away without taking questions from the press.