“This is voluntary. I don’t think I am going to be doing it,” Trump told reporters during his daily coronavirus task force press briefing.

The New York Daily News slammed the president for his comment with its Saturday cover. “IF ONLY IT WERE A MUZZLE,” the tabloid headlined its front page featuring an image of a mask superimposed on Trump’s mouth:

IF ONLY IT WERE A MUZZLE



Trump urges Americans to wear face masks in public to fight coronavirus — but says he ‘won’t be doing it’https://t.co/K4YxYt58O7 pic.twitter.com/6Mzy5GT7tG — New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) April 4, 2020

The U.S. is now the country with the most confirmed coronavirus cases in the world. Some 277,000 people have been sickened nationwide and more than 7,400 killed.

The Daily News frequently uses its front page to call out Trump and his political allies. Only last week, the publication scorned the president’s stated hope to ease social distancing measures by Easter (against the advice of public health officials) in a bid to boost the economy, with this cover:

Easter basket case

Trump wants U.S. up and running by Easter or thousands could commit suicide — https://t.co/anf7nY67DV



Noah Syndergaard needs Tommy John surgery — https://t.co/xnTE1k69bm pic.twitter.com/ey6gWxzk3O — New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) March 25, 2020

Vice President Mike Pence later appeared to walk back Trump’s Easter wish, calling it “really an aspirational goal.”