Gov. Newsom Pulls Kids From Summer Camp as Photo Of Maskless Son Shared on Social Media

Governor Gavin Newsom withdrew two of his children from a summer camp that doesn’t require kids to wear masks on Tuesday following massive social media backlash.

During the summer, two of Newsom’s children attended a Northern California day camp despite increasing COVID-19 measures across the state, including a new mask mandate passed earlier this month that made it state policy for children in grades K-12 to wear masks at schools this fall, with day camps specifically being required to enforce mask policies for kids ages 2-11. However, despite day camps also being covered by the new mandate, some camps didn’t comply with the mandate.

The mask optional policy was:

– Clearly evident in the camp’s social media
– No secret to parents signing up
– Clearly spelled out in the email that attached the waiver. pic.twitter.com/g9UXO3xbUE

— Reopen California Schools (@ReopenCASchools) July 28, 2021

On Monday, Reopen California Schools, a group that wants schools to reopen without masks, revealed through photos that Newsom’s children were attending such a camp.

“Photos posted to Instagram reveal Gavin Newsom’s 10 year old son w/ other kids maskless, indoors & not distancing at a basketball summer camp, even while spectating,” tweeted the group on Monday. “This is in clear violation of his own mask mandates. Why can his kid be maskless, but not ours?”

“The photos were removed from the summer camp’s Instagram account once Newsom’s son was identified, but there is plenty of screenshots and video out there. We have some. The Instagram post occurs as Newsom pushes for increased vaccine rates if we ever want to be rid of masks.”

The Globe also received screen shots of the photos from a parent, and verified that it was Newsom’s son in the basketball photo.

#Breaking Photos posted to Instagram reveal Gavin Newsom’s 10 year old son w/ other kids maskless, indoors & not distancing at a basketball summer camp, even while spectating.

This is in clear violation of his own mask mandates. Why can his kid be maskless, but not ours?

1/

— Reopen California Schools (@ReopenCASchools) July 27, 2021

The parent who sent the Globe the photos said, “I confirmed with the owner of the camp that the policy was masks optional. I have on private DM.” This parent provided several other photos from Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s Instagram account showing the boy in the photo was the Newsom’s son.

Many quickly pointed out that Newsom was skirting state laws again despite he himself touting mandatory school masks earlier this month. The camp mask pictures were immediately compared to the French Laundry incident from late last year when Governor Newsom attended a dinner with many people at an elite Napa County restaurant but ate indoors without masks and without social distancing, breaking numerous mandates and rules despite chastising other Californians for not following them prior to that. Others also compared it to Newsom choosing to send his students to a hybrid remote/in-class private school last year when most other schools in the state, especially public schools, were 100% remote.

Newsom’s current mask guidelines for children age 2 through 11 at the California Department of Public Health:

Are children age 2 through 11 required to wear masks indoors in K-12 schools and other youth settings?

Yes, since they are currently ineligible for vaccines and are therefore “unvaccinated.” This requirement is subject to forthcoming CDC guidance addressing schools and youth.

Pressure against Newsom

Pressure against Newsom grew Tuesday as more photos of his children attending the camp maskless came out, including his son at a basketball camp.

However, later on Tuesday, representatives for Newsom finally announced that they would be pulling their children from the camp because of the mask violations.

“The Newsoms were concerned to see unvaccinated children unmasked indoors at a camp their children began attending yesterday and after seeing this, removed the kids from the camp,” Newsom Communications Director Erin Mellon said in an email. “The family reviewed communication from the camp and realized that an email was missed saying the camp would not enforce masking guidance. Their kids will no longer be attending this camp.”

Newsom has confirmed. His response is complete BS!

– State mandates everyone mask at “youth settings”
– His kid is 10, ineligible for vax.
– Camp basically advertises online they’re maskless (which is great!)
– Camp said masking left up to families
– Finds out from media?

7/ pic.twitter.com/iHrDwk9MWZ

— Reopen California Schools (@ReopenCASchools) July 27, 2021

However, A waiver form for kids to participate in camp sporting activities reads: “Masks will not be enforced. Please know that your child is more than welcome to wear a mask during camp.” Zero Hedge reported.

This is laughable. Of course Newsom knew.

But say he didn’t. Why did they still attend when they arrived and saw no one in masks? Regarding French Laundry, he said he should have turned around and left. They didn’t.

He wants for his kids what we want for ours – normalcy. https://t.co/ydfv1HbLs6

— Reopen California Schools (@ReopenCASchools) July 28, 2021

Despite Newsom removing his children, political experts say that the incident only adds more ammunition to use against Newsom during the recall.

“He once again showed he was putting himself and his family above COVID-19 mandates to many Californians,” said Cal Dunham, a Los Angeles based lawyer who has recently been a part of cases having to do with COVID-19 restrictions. “That’s the consensus at least. And, while he dragged his feet with the French Laundry thing for several days once it broke, Newsom nipped this one in the bud less than 24 hours after it broke. Remember, French Laundry was one of the major catalysts for Newsom getting a recall election against him. If he let this thing fester right in the middle of a recall election? Yikes. It’s why he acted so quickly this time around.”

As of Wednesday it is unknown if the summer camps in question will face repercussions due to campers not having masks.

As Reopen California Schools said, “We just want what Newsom’s kids have, mask-choice. He wants for his kids what we want for ours – normalcy.”

Katy Grimes contributed to this article.