White House tells passengers to WEAR masks on Air Force One for Biden’s trip to New Hampshire

President Joe Biden said travelers should decide for themselves whether or not to wear masks, minutes after stepping off Air Force One where the White House told staff and journalists they must continue to use face coverings a day after a judge struck the federal mandate.

A string of U.S. airlines has already told passengers that masks are optional.

But that did not apply to anyone traveling with President Joe Biden to New Hampshire on Tuesday, who were instead intructed to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation to mask up.

‘During transit on today’s trip, masking will be required in line with CDC guidance,’ the White House said.

Biden is visiting the port authority at Portsmouth Harbor where he is due to deliver a speech on infrastructure spending, before returning to the White House in the evening.

But the president offered his own interpretation of the recommendations when he was asked at the airport in New Hampshire whether passengers should continue to wear masks.

‘That’s up to them,’ he said.

But it comes after a federal judge in Florida upended his administration’s pandemic policy on masks for traveler.

US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled the mandate was unlawful because it exceeded the authority of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The White House was quick to say that the masks should still be worn

‘We’re continuing to recommend people wear masks,’ said Press Secretary Jen Psaki soon after the ruling came out.

A day later she said it was up to the Department of Justice to decide whether to appeal the ruling.

‘I’m not gonna get ahead of the Department of Justice,’ she told reporters aboard Air Force One. ‘We’ll let them make any decisions or announcements.’

She said it typically takes a couple of days to react to a ruling.

‘The CDC continues to advise and recommend masks on aeroplanes. We’re abiding by the CDC recommendations,’ she continued.

‘The president is and we would advise all Americans to do that.’

The mandate had been due to expire on Monday before the CDC said was extending the rule until May 3 to allow for the study of the BA.2 omicron variant which is causing the majority of cases across the nation.