US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been spotted not wearing a mask in a hair salon – despite repeated criticisms of Donald Trump for not wearing one.
Ms Pelosi, a Democrat, has come under fire for the footage taken in eSalon in San Francisco on Monday, which shows staff wearing masks while hers remains around her neck.
The salon was reportedly reopened just for Ms Pelosi. Outdoor haircuts are allowed under California coronavirus rules but indoor salons have not reopened.
eSalon owner Erica Kious, who rents space to stylists, spoke out about her frustration after one of her hairdressers told her Ms Pelosi was coming in for a wash and blow dry.
"It was a slap in the face that she went in, you know, that she feels that she can just go and get her stuff done while no one else can go in, and I can't work," Ms Kious told Fox News.
"We have been shut down for so long, not just me, but most of the small businesses and I just can't - it's a feeling - a feeling of being deflated, helpless and honestly beaten down."
The Speaker's Republican opponents also labelled Ms Pelosi hypocritical after the footage was aired on Fox News.
Senate Republicans tweeted: “Speaker Pelosi has pushed policies that would keep our economy closed and our small businesses shut down. But for herself? A salon visit whenever she pleases.”
Ms Pelosi’s spokesman said she was complying with the rules as presented to her by eSalon.
Spokesman Drew Hammill said: “This business offered for the speaker to come in on Monday and told her they were allowed by the city to have one customer at a time in the business.
“The speaker complied with the rules as presented to her by this establishment.”
Ms Pelosi has repeatedly criticised Mr Trump for mostly avoiding face coverings, calling him a "coward" and adding: "Real men wear masks."
She said this week that the president had "slapped science right in the face" for a Republican convention event where attendees were not wearing masks.
