"I want to look them in the eye" is such a ridiculous excuse for not wearing a mask in that setting. I think 3 years with his boss has severely damaged his ability to reason or use logic.
I just don't understand why he or the administration would defy the Mayo clinic's rules, set such a poor example, and willingly take this criticism. They could've cancelled the visit altogether, but instead CHOSE to have Pence appear and be photographed with no mask. It was intentional and flagrant and it begs the question why.
Is not wearing a mask some sort of power play showing the virus who's in charge? Is it optics - does wearing a mask make him look weak or infer capitulation to a lefty agenda? Is it to appease the open everything up because science is wrong protesters? Like so many things this administration does, I can only shake my head in disbelief.