Melania Trump told Americans to wear face masks in public but ignored her own advice during Memorial Day events

• First Lady Melania Trump has urged Americans to wear face masks in public, but chose to forgo wearing one herself during Memorial Day events on Monday.
• Since early April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all Americans wear some form of face mask in public places where social distancing is difficult.
• Last month, the first lady released a photo of herself wearing a mask and urged Americans to follow the CDC's guidance.
• At one point on Monday, Melania held the hand of a military aide while not wearing a mask — a clear violation of social distancing protocol.
• Other Trump administration officials, including the president, also failed to wear masks.

First lady Melania Trump has urged Americans to wear face masks in public, but chose to forgo wearing one herself during Monday's Memorial Day events with her husband.

Since early April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all Americans wear some form of face mask in public places where social distancing is difficult.

Despite the president's refusal to wear a mask, the first lady has echoed the CDC's call by releasing a video and social media posts urging Americans to wear masks and posting a photo of herself donning a mask.

"As the CDC studies the spread of #COVID-19, they recommend people wear cloth face coverings in public settings when social distancing can be hard to do," she wrote in social media posts. "Remember, this does NOT replace the importance of social distancing."

But since then, the first lady has eschewed wearing a mask herself.

—Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) April 9, 2020

On Monday, Melania — like her husband — didn't wear a mask while attending Memorial Day events at Arlington National Cemetery and at Fort McHenry in Baltimore. While the first lady stood several feet away from most event attendees and staff, at one point she held the hand of a military aide who helped her step off a stage, violating social distancing protocol.

The White House didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Trump has largely refused to wear a mask, insisting that he and those who come in close contact with him are regularly tested for the virus. Vice President Mike Pence was forced to apologize for refusing to wear a mask during a visit to the Mayo Clinic's headquarters earlier this month.

Later on Monday, the president shared a tweet mocking former Vice President Joe Biden for wearing a mask during a public Memorial Day appearance.

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