President Biden and first lady Jill Biden flouted Washington, DC’s indoor mask mandate Saturday night when they were filmed walking maskless through a high-end Italian restaurant — with critics quickly blasting the first couple as “hypocrites.”
The Bidens were caught on camera leaving Fiola Mare in Georgetown with their masked-up Secret Service agents in tow, according to videos posted on social media.
Biden could be seen carrying his mask in both hands as he left the pricey seafood establishment overlooking the Potomac River.
His wife did not appear to be carrying her mask as she left.
Wearing masks inside is mandatory in DC after Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser reinstated an indoor mask mandate in July when the Delta variant of the coronavirus started to surge.
The Bidens also ignored the restaurant’s own mask policy, which is in line with the city’s mandate and clearly states one must be worn regardless of a person’s vaccination status.
“Per CDC guidance and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s executive order, all individuals over age 2 are required to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Masks must be always worn while in our restaurants, except while eating and drinking. Thank you for understanding,” the restaurant says on its website.
Establishments that fail to enforce the mask mandate potentially can be fined under Bowser’s executive order.
Social media users were quick to brand Biden a “hypocrite” given he’s been pushing for Americans to wear masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Every American deserves an answer from @JoeBiden directly explaining why he thinks is allowed to break rules that he demands others to follow,” Benny Johnson wrote on Twitter.
“Hypocrites gonna hypocrite, y’all,” Clay Travis tweeted.
“Joe Biden was spotted walking around a restaurant without a mask last night. Just another reminder that rules implemented by the ruling class only apply to us, not them,” Joey Gilbert said.
Biden’s violation of DC’s mask mandate came as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was also busted without a face covering at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena on Sunday night.
The mayor tweeted a photo of herself in the crowd without a mask as she celebrated the Chicago Sky’s WNBA win over the Phoenix Mercury.
The state of Illinois has an indoor mask mandate and Wintrust Arena has a warning on its website saying: “The Wintrust Arena is following all state and local mandates which require guests to wear masks indoors at all times, except when eating or drinking.”
