Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti lambasted US President Donald Trump on Thursday for appearing in public outside of the White House while not wearing a face mask.
Speaking to MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell, Garcetti was asked about Trump's avoidance of protective face covering.
Garcetti responded saying "he's our commander in chief" and that "real men wear face masks”.
The LA mayor stressed that wearing masks is a gateway to "increasing freedom" and increased "economic activity", adding said that "modeling" the use of protective face covering is important for leaders.
Users responded to the mayor's comments with praise.
Others asked why Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate in the 2020 election, has not been seen wearing a mask.
Democrat lawmaker and current governor of hard-hit New York state, Andrew Cuomo, was also the target of criticism as some netizens asked if Garcetti had asked the New York Governor why he was not seen wearing a mask.
As Trump geared up to head to a Ford ventilator assembly plant in Michigan without wearing a mask, despite company and state guidelines, users have suggested that Trump wear protection when visiting their states.
The mayor's comments come as authorities across the US have stepped up messaging to get citizens to wear face masks as economies look to loosen social distancing measures.