evidence: Another 23% say masks should rarely or never be worn. Trump has been caught on camera once wearing a mask. But Pence and members of the White House coronavirus task force frequently appear in public wearing masks. "If you want the return of college football this year, wear a face covering. If you want a chance at prom next spring, wear a face covering," Surgeon General Jerome Adams urged Americans. READ MORE: More Americans disapprove of Trump now than at any other time in his presidency Over the course of the crisis, the government has sent mixed messages on masks. As the first COVID-19 cases were identified on U.S. soil, top public health officials insisted masks should be reserved for front-line workers. In early April, the CDC issued a recommendation that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures were difficult to maintain. But Trump immediately undercut the CDC guidance by flatly stating that he wouldn’t be following it, suggesting it would be unseemly for the commander in chief to wear one as he meets with heads of states.