COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two of the most interesting sidenotes from President Trump's visit to Ohio on Monday had very little to do with the president himself.
One was the boos that both Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted received during Trump's event at the Dayton International Airport in Vandalia. The other was the noticable lack of social distancing and mask-wearing in both Dayton and Toledo.
DeWine and Husted addressed both the booing and the lack of masks during their COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday.
As far as the boos that he got when introduced by President Trump, DeWine seemed to laugh it off. "Booing is a First Amendment right, whether you're at a ballpark or a political rally," DeWine said with a smile. People have every right to boo. I've been picketed in the past, I've been booed in the past."
Husted received his share of boos and jeers on Monday in Dayton when he talked about wearing pro-Trump masks.
"When we ask people to wear masks, we're not doing it for our benefit, we're doing it for them," Husted added.
"It's a simple sign of how we should care about each other. Not everyone embraces that and I respect that. We've had success because we've been able to convince most people. It's not that we're trying to tell people what to do. But these (masks) are symbols of freedom."
What about the noticable lack of social distancing and face coverings at both Ohio events on Monday?
"We've made it very clear that if you're exercising your First Amendment rights, we're not going to have a health order," DeWine said. "We said the same thing to demonstrators at Dr. Acton, me, those who came to my house. But we've also made it clear to please wear a mask. That's how you stay safe. We've been consistent about this mask guidance. They (those who did not wear masks at the rallies) did not follow that, some did, many did not, and that's too bad."
"If folks want to wear Trump masks, they want to wear Biden masks, they can wear whatever mask they want because it works," Husted added.