President Donald Trump mentioned the United States producing a large number of goggles in response to the coronavirus pandemic, leading many people online to question why the president brought that up in the first place.
Masks have become synonymous with the time we’re living in, but Trump mentioned “goggles” first as he listed off a number of things the United States has produced during the pandemic.
A lot of people online were clearly puzzled.
“We have a problem that’s a worldwide problem. This is a worldwide problem. But I’ve been congratulated by the heads of many countries on what we’ve been able to do. If you take a look at what we’ve done in terms of goggles, and masks, and gowns, and everything else,” Trump said. “And in particular ventilators. We’re now making ventilators all over the world. Thousands and thousands a month, distributing them all over the world. It will go away, and as I say, we’re rounding the turn, we’re rounding the corner. It’s going away.”
Coronavirus can spread through the eyes, according to the UNC School of Medicine, but wearing goggles has not been recommended by scientists the same way wearing masks has been (although, Trump’s endorsement of masks has been sketchy at best).
It’s likely Trump was referring to face shields worn by doctors and nurses. But Trump kicking off the final presidential debate with former Vice President Joe Biden by mentioning goggles had a lot of people cracking jokes.
At least Trump and Biden aren’t interrupting each other yet?