John Kerry caught flouting Biden’s mask mandate on flight, dismisses ‘elite hypocrite’ accusations as ‘malarkey’
US special climate envoy John Kerry is under fire after he was spotted without a mask on board a flight, prompting American Airlines to investigate the matter as critics condemn the failed presidential candidate for hypocrisy.
A mostly maskless Kerry was photographed by a fellow passenger while on a flight from Boston to DC on Wednesday, with the image first obtained by the Tennessee Star. At the time, he was reportedly not eating or drinking, thereby violating President Joe Biden’s federal mask mandate, which applies to all forms of interstate travel.
I remember when a family was kicked off a plane with cheers because their 18 MONTH OLD was not wearing a mask.#RulesForTheeNotForMe
— Jenny Garcia Sharon (@jenny4congress) March 18, 2021
Alerted to the photo, American Airlines vowed to “look into” the incident in multiple Twitter posts, also giving a separate statement to media outlets later on Wednesday evening noting that the company would contact Kerry to reiterate its mask policies.
SPOTTED: Liberal hypocrite & Biden Admin official @JohnKerry flouting @JoeBiden's Federal mask mandate.NOTE: His mask is off & he isn’t eating or drinking. Will he be fined for breaking the law & banned from flying @AmericanAir like regular citizens would be?#LiberalPrivilegepic.twitter.com/3j7j57jXVI
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) March 17, 2021
“The crew did not observe Secretary Kerry without a mask, and they were not alerted by other customers to a non-compliance issue,” an airline spokesperson said. “We continue to review the matter and we are reaching out to Secretary Kerry to underscore that all customers are expected to wear masks for the duration of their trip.”
Masks are required on board our aircraft, and we are looking into this.
— americanair (@AmericanAir) March 17, 2021
The airline’s apparently permissive attitude toward the high-profile politician differs sharply from its treatment of its less powerful customers, booting a family of 20 off a flight earlier this year for a minor mask infraction.
Seven hours later and American Airlines is still trying to figure out if John Kerry isn’t wearing a mask in that picture of him not wearing a mask. https://t.co/YycAeliCyx
— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) March 18, 2021
The passenger who snapped the hot-button photo, who asked not to be named, told Fox News that Kerry had worn his mask before boarding the plane, but removed it soon after finding his seat and only put it back on later in the flight. They heaped mocking praise on the ex-secretary of state.
“I salute our Very Special Presidential Envoy for Climate for not flying private, but instead flying first class commercial with the rest of us common folk,” joked the passenger. “And while he can’t bring himself to follow his own party’s mask restrictions, we should cut him some slack.”
Also on rt.com Family of 20 booted off American Airlines flight for ‘improper mask-wearing’Being an elite hypocrite is hard work!
Kerry himself stepped in to address the controversy later on Wednesday night, rejecting the allegations as “malarkey” in a distinctly Biden-esque statement.
“Let’s be clear: If I dropped my mask to one ear on a flight, it was momentary. I wear my mask because it saves lives and stops the spread. It’s what the science tells us to do,” Kerry said.
Feels like there’s some St. Patrick’s day “malarkey” afoot on Twitter. Let’s be clear: If I dropped my mask to one ear on a flight, it was momentary. I wear my mask because it saves lives and stops the spread. It’s what the science tells us to do.
— Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry (@ClimateEnvoy) March 17, 2021
Another netizen claiming to have sat adjacent to the climate envoy on the flight, Bryce Strahorn, also weighed in, saying Kerry pulled his mask to one ear only briefly and that the flight was “fairly empty.” The passenger also told the New York Post’s Steven Nelson in a Twitter exchange that Kerry had shook hands with others on the plane, though didn’t clarify whether he did so while his mask was off.
While Kerry was vaccinated against the coronavirus last month, American Airlines policy, as well as Biden’s federal mandate, do not exempt those who’ve received the inoculation.
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