Pence defends hosting Amy Coney Barrett Rose Garden ceremony during pandemic

• Though it was an outdoor event, members of the audience sat cramped together and many did not wear masks.
• The White House also hosted indoor receptions before and after the ceremony in which guests did not wear masks.

What they're saying: "My wife Karen and I were there, and honored to be there," Pence said. "Many of the people who were at that event actually were tested for coronavirus, and it was an outdoor event, which all of our scientists regularly and routinely advise."

The big picture: Pence was asked how the administration expects the American people to follow health guidelines when the White House does not follow its own safety guidelines.

• Pence did not comment on the White House's observation of health guidelines, but praised Americans for putting "the health of their families and their neighbors and people they don't even know first."