President Donald Trump is under fire after the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told a Senate committee Wednesday that facemasks are “more guaranteed” to protect against the coronavirus than a COVID-19 vaccine.

“I might even go so far as to say that this facemask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine,” Dr. Redfield said.

“These facemasks are the most important, powerful public health tool we have,” Dr. Redfield said. “I will continue to appeal for all Americans, all individuals in our country, to embrace these face coverings – I’ve said that if we did it for six, eight, ten, twelve weeks we’d bring this pandemic under control. We have clear scientific evidence they work, and they are our best defense.”

On Tuesday night during an ABC News town hall President Trump once again tried to minimize the effectiveness of facemasks and tried to add confusion to the facts.

“Now there is by the way, a lot of people don’t want to wear masks. There are a lot of people think that masks are not good. And there are a lot of people that as an example you have –” Trump said before host George Stephanopoulos interrupted.

“Who are those people?” he asked the president.

“I’ll tell you who those people are — waiters,” President Trump replied. “They come over and they serve you, and they have a mask. And I saw it the other day where they were serving me, and they’re playing with the mask…I’m not blaming them…I’m just saying what happens. They’re playing with the mask, so the mask is over, and they’re touching it, and then they’re touching the plate. That can’t be good.”

Trump was slammed on social media.

NEW: CDC Director Redfield to US Senate cmte.: “These facemasks are the important, powerful public health tool we have … I might even go so far as to say that this facemask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine.” pic.twitter.com/7LJZ3U9xi1 — NBC News (@NBCNews) September 16, 2020

@realDonaldTrump Doctor Robert Redfield of the CDC said that masks are extremely effective and might be more effective than the vaccine.

Under oath in the Senate committee hearing right now.

He said that the vaccine is 70% effective, but the mask is almost 100% effective.Trump — Roger Amick (@rlamick) September 16, 2020

It’s worse than that. Republicans are actively demonizing masks. Trump never wears one, and he demanded a reporter remove his. Redfield is admitting that Republicans are running an active campaign to kill us. — OG McDuck (@OG_McDuck) September 16, 2020

Trump last night: “A lot of people think that masks are not good.”

Trump’s CDC Director today: “This face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine.”

Trump’s cavalier irresponsibility about masks will cause the death of more Americans. — Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) September 16, 2020

Oh come on America, DON’T be ridiculous. Who are you going to believe? Trump citing some unknown WAITER at some unknown eating establishment who says wearing masks is bad? OR…the Director of CDC DOCTOR Redfield, a virologist w/43 YEARS experience combating contagious diseases? https://t.co/ikAvDaCaTa — Brent O (@OnlineDetective) September 16, 2020

And this am Redfield confirms the importance of masks. He’ll be fired in 5,4,3,2…..trumps stupidity is killing Americans. — Tracy Silver (@TracyTSTiara) September 16, 2020

CDC director on right now saying face masks are single most important tool to stop covid19 virus. More important than vaccine which will not be 100% and will not work on everyone. What has trump said about face masks for last 9 months? He has caused mass damage — Jumbo Elliott (@JumboElliott76) September 16, 2020