If there's one thing the Republican Senator from Florida, Marco Rubio, knows its how to do, it's say something the internet will rip him to shreds over online.
This time, Rubio decided to try and insult the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Austin was visiting the Philippines where he arrived with a mask and face shield due to the rise in Covid variant infections.
Rubio took the opportunity to call Austin's pandemic precautions "embarrassing."
Our @SecDef is vaccinated\n\nBut he arrives in the Philippines wearing a mask AND a face shield \n\nEmbarrassing COVID theatrepic.twitter.com/y0UBYEfqTD— Marco Rubio (@Marco Rubio) 1627572248
What was meant to be a swipe at those who take the danger presented by the global pandemic seriously, instead was turned against the Florida Republucan Senator.
It was quickly pointed out the Philippines are experiencing a bad outbreak of the virus. The Philippine government has instituted mandates for everyone to wear full face coverage and shields while in public.
This is easily looked up or even asked about, rather than assuming a four-star general is engaging in "theatre."
From the embassy: "The Philippine government has mandated that everyone must wear full-coverage face shields together with face masks while in public places. Local governments continue to implement additional requirements to slow the virus\u2019 spread"https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1420767103435542535\u00a0\u2026— Dave Brown (@Dave Brown) 1627576830
We were told prior to arrival in Manila that the Philippines required everyone getting off @SecDef \u2018s plane to wear a mask and face shield. I am traveling with Austin as a member of the press and had to wear both as well. #COVID19 cases are surging here.https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1420767103435542535\u00a0\u2026— Carla Babb (@Carla Babb) 1627596609
Responses on social media wondered if Rubio just isn't a very smart man.
So @marcorubio went for a troll shot rather than seek the reason? That\u2019s so hard to believe.https://twitter.com/carlababbvoa/status/1420869280904667136\u00a0\u2026— David Corn (@David Corn) 1627611052
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who served 41 years in the military, is a total badass. If he decides wear a mask and face shield while overseas in a poorly vaccinated country, then an infantile coward like Marco Rubio is the last person who should be questioning it.— Palmer Report (@Palmer Report) 1627597534
Quite an amazing tweet from @marcorubio . Everyone in the delegation was given a shield and face mask prior to arriving, including the press, since the Philippines, which is facing a surge in covid cases, requires both to be worn.https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1420767103435542535\u00a0\u2026— Idrees Ali (@Idrees Ali) 1627590042
What an embarrassment @marcorubio is for our country. Had he known what was going on in other countries, he would have known why @SecDef was following their guidelines.https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1420767103435542535\u00a0\u2026— Mary S \ud83c\udf0a (@Mary S \ud83c\udf0a) 1627612597
The Manila capital region of the country is implementing a lockdown to try and control the spread of the viral pathogen that has killed 4.2 million people worldwide. While it's expected to cost the economy $4.18 billion it's seen as a necessary precaution.
Only 7% of the country is fully vaccinated with infections on the rise. On top of that, the Delta variant has been reported in over 200 cases.
This is why there are such strict measures in place, especially for foreign visitors.
People felt Rubio would be wise to apologize.
Sen. @marcorubio should apologize. It is obviously appropriate for US officials to follow the health requirements of the host country they are visiting. But in any case, it is juvenile and pathetic to be shaming people for wearing a mask.https://twitter.com/carlababbvoa/status/1420869280904667136\u00a0\u2026— Laura Rozen (@Laura Rozen) 1627606474
Do you know how to say sorry @marcorubiohttps://twitter.com/billkristol/status/1420772819366031361\u00a0\u2026— Nadine Lorey Lockwood (@Nadine Lorey Lockwood) 1627590992
@marcorubio had an ounce of decency, he would apologize and remove the tweet. Not holding my breath.— \u00c1ine Ni Donnghaile \u26be\u2618\ud83c\udf33\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\udf77\ud83d\udc89 \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 (@\u00c1ine Ni Donnghaile \u26be\u2618\ud83c\udf33\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\udf77\ud83d\udc89 \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7) 1627597456
Marco, will you please read? apologize? work on being helpful ? thank you— cindy lang (@cindy lang) 1627606582
Rubio can consider himself lucky the backlash was so mild compared to past incidents where he became the internet's punching bag for a day.
Earlier this year, an unfinished tweet sent out by the GOP Senator led to many using it to either call out his bad policies or flip-flopping opinion on former President Donald Trump, who he called a "con artist" before becoming a big Trump supporter.
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