Joe and Jill Biden seen leaving restaurant maskless in violation of DC’s indoor mask mandate

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were in violation of Washington D.C.’s indoor mask mandate on Saturday night when they were captured on camera walking maskless inside an Italian restaurant.

This was the first time since Joe and Jill Biden dined at a Washington restaurant after moving to the White House. The couple were caught on camera leaving Fiola Mare, an Italian seafood restaurant in the Georgetown area of the city. The video showed them casually walking indoors without either of them having their face masks. Biden could be seen carrying his mask in both hands as he left the restaurant, while the first lady seemed not to be carrying her mask at all as she left.

The restaurant’s website also specifies its rule regarding the mask policy. “Per CDC guidance and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s executive order, all individuals over age 2 are required to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status,” the restaurant states on its website. “Masks must be always worn while in our restaurants, except while eating and drinking,” it further mentions.

There were several negative reactions towards Biden on social media. “Every American deserves an answer from @JoeBiden directly explaining why he thinks is allowed to break rules that he demands others to follow,” conservative commentator Benny Johnson wrote on Twitter. “Joe Biden was spotted walking around a restaurant without a mask last night. Just another reminder that rules implemented by the ruling class only apply to us, not them,” Joey Gilbert said.

Press Secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged that Biden should have put on his mask quicker, but felt the matter was blown out of proportion. “Of course, there are moments when we all don’t put masks back on as quickly as we should,” the press secretary said in response to questioning over the moment. “But I don’t think we should lose a forest through the trees here,” Psaki said.