Masking insecurity

Why does Trump still refuse to wear a mask in public? He says he has done in private and that his refusal to model CDC recommended behavior is just to troll the media. That is certainly part of the explanation, but there are two other factors to consider.

First, since he initially took the pandemic too lightly and ignoring science decided not to wear one, , he now can't admit he was wrong, so he's committed to his failing course of action. And there there is the optic. He doesn't want there to be any images of him wearing a mask anywhere that might be used by his opponents in the in the upcoming election.

If all the images of him are of a man looking totally normal while all those around him are wearing masks, he thinks it will make him look super human. For his supporters of course everything he does is seen as super human. But subconsciously, it might work on independent voters. That's a problem for Joe Biden.