#Please, Mr. President: Quit trash-talking masks

Wear a mask: It’s the most effective single technique right now for limiting COVID-19 spread, pending release of an effective vaccine.

Please, Mr. President, stop suggesting anything else.

We want to get back to a more normal life, with indoor restaurant dining and in-person schooling. The way we get those things is for people to act smart — and that includes wearing masks.

People are more likely to wear their masks if they get a consistent message to do so from leaders they trust. Which means you need to stop contradicting your own people, such as your CDC chief, Dr. Robert Redfield.

It’s certainly true, as Politico reports, that Team Trump has worked unprecedented miracles in getting the nation close to a vaccine: If any of several different programs pan out, we’re likely to have one early next year — far sooner than the 12 to 18 months that was the optimistic prediction back in March.

It’s wrong for Joe Biden to cast doubt on vaccine progress and say he doesn’t trust any vaccine the president promotes. Democrats are politicizing the pandemic, trying to ride the virus into the White House.

That’s terrible: This isn’t a blue state-red state issue.

But that’s true for you, too. You’re president of every one of these United States, and your sworn duty is to serve the people of every one of them. Care about all America, and quit dumping on masks.