Biden: It’s ‘Up To’ Travelers If They Want To Wear Masks Or Not

On Tuesday, President Biden said that American travelers should be able to make their own decision on if they want to wear masks on airplanes following a Florida federal judge’s decision to strike down his administration’s mask mandate for planes and most other forms of transportation the day before.

The president was asked by a reporter if people should continue to wear masks on planes, to which he replied, “That’s up to them.”

Reporter: "Should people continue to wear masks on planes?"

Biden: "That's up to them." pic.twitter.com/SyEg4WUzxu

— The Recount (@therecount) April 19, 2022

As noted by The New York Post, “Biden and those traveling with him aboard Air Force One were made to mask up despite the judge’s ruling and many airlines and transportation agencies reversing the policy.”

“During transit on today’s trip, masking will be required in line with CDC guidance,” the White House told reporters who were planning on traveling with him.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa struck down the mask mandate because it “exceeded the CDC’s statutory authority, improperly invoked the good cause exception to notice and comment rulemaking, and failed to adequately explain its decisions.”

She added that “our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends.”

“The Court DECLARES UNLAWFUL and VACATES the Mask Mandate, remanding it to the CDC for further proceedings consistent with this order,” Mizelle ordered. “The Court directs the Clerk to TERMINATE President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as a Defendant to this action, to ENTER final judgment in favor of Plaintiffs as prescribed in this order, and to CLOSE this case.”