DeWine says he’s unfazed by boos from Trump crowd during Vandalia visit

COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike DeWine, often the target of hard line conservatives who oppose his statewide mask mandate, said he understands why people booed him at President Donald Trump’s rally at the Dayton International Airport on Monday.

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DeWine, who did not take the stage during the event at Wright Bros. Aero, received a loud round of boos when the president mentioned him. DeWIne had met with the president before the rally. When the boos flooded the airport hangar, Trump did not flinch and moved on.

At his briefing Tuesday, DeWine responded to a reporter’s question about the negative reaction from the crowd at the mere mention of his name. He said political events are exempt from mask mandates, whether they are sponsored by Republicans, Democrats or anyone else. The governor said he has been picketed many times, even outside his home in Cedarville, and he still believes his response to the coronavirus is on the right path.

“Whether there are demonstrators, whether its people at a Trump rally or other kind of rally, please wear a mask. That’s how you stay safe,” DeWine said.

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Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, whose name was mispronounced by the rally announcer as he was being introduced, endured prolonged booing from the crowd earlier in the event. He held up several masks and began to talk about wearing them. Within seconds the boos started to come from the crowd before he relented and said “OK, I get it.”

At the briefing Tuesday, Husted said, “The people of this state are making this work. It’s not perfect. Yesterday certainly wasn’t, but by and large people of Ohio are getting it right and I tried to set a good example.”

DeWine said it is people’s right to voice their displeasure with what is happening in government. Still, he remains determined to guide the state response to the coronavirus, based on science, knowing that there will be some people who question his motives, his guidance, and his restrictions.

“We have asked people to please, please, please be careful. Sometimes they listen to us. Sometimes they don’t,” DeWine said. The vast majority of people at the Trump rally Monday were not wearing a mask and there was no social distancing, with people packed into the airport hangar, although the doors were open to allow in fresh air.

Cox Media Group