‘What is wrong with these people’: Melania condemned Trump staffers for not wearing masks

The first lady was reportedly ‘perplexed’ by staffers’ lax attitudes toward Covid-19 protocols

Melania Trump was reportedly unsettled with White House staffers’ lax attitudes toward face masks and other Covid-19 public-health measures. (Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Melania Trump took Covid-19 precautions around the White House more seriously than her husband, Donald Trump, according to a new Bloomberg report that purports to shed light on the first lady's response to public-health guidance.

The outlet claims that Melania told her staff to work from home unless absolutely necessary and required them to wear face masks if they had to come into the East Wing. The first lady also appeared "taken aback" during multiple incidents when she came into contact with maskless White House staffers, the report says.

According to Bloomberg, Melania subsequently decided to limit the number of aides traveling with her aboard Air Force One. On one trip, she was reportedly "perplexed" to see none of the president's aides wearing masks. On another flight, Melania reportedly asked if masks would be worn and was told yes. But when she walked into a conference room to greet members of Congress, no one had a face covering on.

"What is wrong with these people?" she later said, according to a Bloomberg source.

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US, President Trump has repeatedly downplayed the effectiveness of face masks, social distancing, and more public health guidelines. During the first presidential debate on 29 September, he openly mocked his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, for frequently wearing face masks. Two days later, the president tested positive for the coronavirus and was hospitalised.

Melania herself tested positive for Covid-19 at the same time as her husband, but was able to recover from home.