DeWine exempts Trump from mask mandate

The DeWine administration gave the green light to President Donald Trump late Tuesday saying it would not enforce social distancing, crowd size limitations or the state's mask mandate if Trump comes to Ohio and holds a political rally. "President Trump is always welcome in Ohio," Melanie Amato, a press secretary for the Ohio Department of Health told the Register after deadline on Tuesday. "While we are encouraging the limit of 10 people on mass gatherings, political rallies are protected by the First Amendment and are exempt." DeWine declined to address questions the Register sent him after an indoor Trump rally in Henderson, Nevada, on Sunday drew thousands of Trump supporters, most of whom did not wear masks, did not social distance, and were gathered in defiance of crowd size limitations set forth in public health orders in that state. Ohio has similar orders. DeWine's spokesman also did not respond to questions or provide comment. The Register reiterated its earlier questions and asked Amato if the First Amendment exemption she was citing applied to everyone, or only to political campaigns, and how that distinction was determined.