Fox News' Laura Ingraham claims Democrats will make Americans wear masks 'forever'

Laura Ingraham is pushing some patently false claims about what America might look like under Democratic leadership.
On Tuesday night, the Fox News host welcomed lawyer and Republican operative Harmeet Dhillon to her show to condemn Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) for ordering people to wear masks in public statewide. Dhillon falsely suggested "the masks don't work" or at least that no one can "prove they work," and then said that could provide a legal pathway to overriding Northam's order. Ingraham chimed in to claim if masks are "for safety," then "this is not a temporary thing," and then suggested if Democrats "get real power," they'll enact rules that mandate wearing masks in public "forever."
Ingraham's claim is clearly untrue, seeing as most U.S. localities, including many run by Democrats, haven't mandated people wear masks when in public. It's only the opinion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hundreds of health experts, and Ingraham's colleague Sean Hannity that they should do so.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
The collapse of El Salvador's bitcoin dream
Under the Radar Central American nation rolls back its controversial, world-first cryptocurrency laws
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Critics’ choice: New takes on French cuisine
Feature Featuring simple dishes, a Michelin star-winning chef, and a cheeky steakhouse
By The Week US Published
-
Film Reviews: My Dead Friend Zoe and Ex-Husbands
Feature A veteran is haunted by her past and a dad crashes his son's bachelor party
By The Week US Published
-
Trump touts early wins in partisan speech to Congress
Speed Read The president said he is 'just getting started' with his sweeping changes to immigration, the economy and foreign policy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trudeau blasts Trump's 'very dumb' trade war
Speed Read Retaliatory measures have been announced by America's largest trading partners following Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after public spat
Speed Read Trump and J.D. Vance berated Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what they saw as insufficient gratitude
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's Mexico and Canada tariffs begin, roiling markets
Speed Read Stocks plunged after Trump affirmed that the tariffs would take effect, sparking a likely trade war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Judge tells White House to stop ordering mass firings
speed read The ruling is a complication in the Trump administration's plans to slash the federal workforce
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump vows 25% tariffs on EU at Cabinet meeting
Speed Read The tariff threats serve to enhance a growing suspicion that the president views Europe as an adversary, not an ally
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump proposes 'gold card' visas for rich immigrants
speed read The president claimed the US will begin selling $5 million visas offering permanent residency
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
House passes framework for big tax and spending cuts
Speed Read Democrats opposed the GOP's plan for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending cuts, citing the impacts it will have on social programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published