A Mayo Clinic spokesperson told POLITICO that Pence and his team had been briefed about the mask policy prior to arriving on campus. “We made the Vice President and his staff aware of our policy regarding masking,” the spokesperson said, referring other questions to Pence’s office. Masks were made available to Pence on Tuesday, said two individuals.

Mayo Clinic also took down a tweet that had said "Mayo Clinic had informed @VP of the masking policy prior to his arrival today." The clinic did not immediately respond to a question about why the tweet was deleted.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn, who accompanied Pence on the trip, did wear a mask as he toured Mayo Clinic. “He set a good example as a public health official,” said a senior administration official.

Ken Martin, chairman of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in Minnesota, criticized Pence for setting a dangerous example, saying his failure to abide by hospital rules "jeopardizes the health and well-being of those around him and encourages others to engage in the same selfish and irresponsible behavior."

“The least we can do to thank the essential workers who risk infection to keep us fed, healthy, and safe during this crisis is to take the proper precautions to keep them safe as well," Martin said. "By refusing to lead by example and help protect essential workers, Vice President Pence is telling the American people that his public image matters more than the lives of those on the frontlines of this pandemic.”