Trump's failure to grasp benefits of masks suggests he's not competent to manage crisis, says top doctor

'His failure to understand this simple public health measure ... makes me wonder whether he is qualified now to manage this'

A leading professor of medicine has called president Donald Trump “unteachable” on the subject of masks and said that it indicates he is not competent to manage the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

In an appearance on CNN, Dr Jonathan Reiner, professor at the George Washington School of Medicine & Health Sciences, responded to the president’s latest remarks regarding the wearing of masks.

“He is unteachable and I can’t understand it. His failure to understand this simple public health measure, his reluctance to accept the advice of all of his public health experts, makes me wonder whether he is qualified now to manage this.”

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday the president offered contradicting views on whether people should wear face masks, saying that “masks cause problems, too”, and the people should be free not to wear them.

Asked whether there would be any downside to a national mask mandate, Dr Reiner said that there would not be and the huge surge in Covid-19 cases being experienced by most of the country could be ended quicker.

Framing his answer in terms the president would understand, he explained that a national mask mandate would mean more schools could reopen in more places in the autumn, and there might even be a return of professional sports.

“His poll numbers would go up because the virus would be tamped down in multiple parts of the country much quicker. There is no downside for him,” said Dr Reiner.

He concluded: “This is not a sophisticated question where experts differ, there is no difference of opinion about this. The fact that the president of the United States can’t get this straight raises serious doubts about his competence.”

On Monday morning, the Surgeon General Jerome Adams appeared on Fox News and begged viewers to wear masks.

“I'm pleading with your viewers. I'm begging you: Please understand we are not trying to take away your freedoms when we say wear a face covering,” he said.

By Monday morning there were 3.77 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the US, and over 140,000 officially confirmed deaths.