WH addresses Biden's remarks about states repealing public health measures
ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Mary Bruce pressed White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday about Biden's pandemic response, including his reaction to the governors of Texas and Mississippi eliminating mask mandates and allowing businesses to open at 100% capacity.
Bruce asked Psaki about the president saying those moves represented "neanderthal thinking" and asked whether that stance would help convince people to follow health measures.
Psaki said the president's comments were a "reflection of his frustration and exasperation" -- a year into the pandemic -- with decisions not consistent with science.
She also responded to a question about whether the White House would recommend people not travel to states like Texas and Mississippi as a result of those states' policies.
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"We are going to continue to use every method of the bully pulpit at our disposal to convey directly to people living across the country, including in many of these states, that mask-wearing, social distancing getting access to the vaccine is the path to go back to normal," Psaki said.