Wu: Abbott's executive order against mask mandate 'the type of thing you'd expect from Trump'

State Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston) is putting Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) on blast, calling his decision to sign an executive order to ban the enforcement of mask mandates in the state.

Abbott's decision to eschew mask mandates comes as the CDC recommends donning masks indoors.

"The time for government mask mandates is over—now is the time for personal responsibility," Abbott tweeted on July 27. "In May, I signed an executive order prohibiting mask mandates by government entities. Every Texan has the right to choose whether they will wear a mask or have their children wear masks."

Wu responded to Abbott's decision saying, "Gov. Abbott's conduct right now is the type of thing you would expect from Donald Trump. Do outrageous things that make little sense to distract from more pressing matters."

Fox News reported that as children under 12 aren't able to get a COVID-19 vaccination, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said that enforcing a mask mandate could save children's lives before they head back to school. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and Nirenburg sent Abbott a letter requesting permission for them to enforce masks.

"Schools should be able to do that," Wolff said of a mask mandate, told by Fox News. "[Unvaccinated people] are putting themselves in great jeopardy, they’re putting everybody else in great jeopardy." 

Abbott denied the request.

"I issued an executive order providing uniformity in Texas' COVID response—we must rely on personal responsibility, not government mandates," Abbott said in a July 29 Tweet. "Texans will decide for themselves whether they'll wear masks and open businesses. Vaccines are the best defense and will always remain voluntary."

A text was sent to residents of Bexar County urging them to wear masks regardless of if they've received the vaccine or not, Fox News reported.

The CDC recently changed its mask recommendation due to the latest Delta variant of COVID-19.