President Donald Trump fired back at Michigan's attorney general Thursday night after she blasted him for not wearing a mask in front of the media during a visit to a Ford plant.
"The Wacky Do Nothing Attorney General of Michigan, Dana Nessel, is viciously threatening Ford Motor Company for the fact that I inspected a Ventilator plant without a mask. Not their fault, & I did put on a mask. No wonder many auto companies left Michigan, until I came along!" Trump tweeted.
He added, "Do nothing A.G. of the Great State of Michigan, Dana Nessel, should not be taking her anger and stupidity out on Ford Motor they might get upset with you and leave the state, like so many other companies have — until I came along and brought business back to Michigan. JOBS!"
NBC News published an image of Trump, provided by an anonymous source and verified by the outlet as legitimate, wearing a black mask with the presidential seal printed on it during part of his Ford plant visit that was not open to the media.
"I wore one in this back area, but I didn't want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it," Trump said.
"I think I look better in the mask. I'm making a speech, so I won't have it on now."
Nessel responded to Trump's attack with two tweets of her own, accusing him of lying.
"Hi! After struggling with our Gov & SOS, impressed you know my name. Seems like you have a problem with all 3 women who run MI-as well as your ability to tell the truth. The auto industry has been thriving for years bc of our incredible auto workers & companies. #UnionStrong," she wrote.
Nessel added, "Also, hard to say I've 'done nothing' as AG with all the lawsuits myself and the other @DemocraticAGs have filed and won against you."
The Twitter spat came hours after Nessel, a Democrat, criticized him for defying Ford's policy by not wearing a facial covering at its facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan, because of the coronavirus pandemic. She aired her grievances on Twitter and continued into the evening during a CNN appearance.
"The president is like a petulant child who refuses to follow the rules, and I have to say, this is no joke," she said on CNN.
"This is not a joke, and he is conveying the worst possible message to people who cannot afford to be on the receiving end of terrible misinformation."
Nessel also threatened legal action against Ford or any other company if they allowed him to enter their facilities without wearing a mask.
The pandemic's death toll in the U.S. is approaching 100,000. In Michigan, more than 5,100 people have died from the virus.
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