Vice President Mike Pence ordered a cheeseburger with pickles at a Florida restaurant during a visit designed to highlight how the state is trying to protect its elderly population while lifting coronavirus restrictions.
The very public lunch Wednesday with Governor Ron DeSantis marked a return to business as usual for Pence, who had made a string of diner stops in swing states before the pandemic upended campaign plans.
He was grounded last week after a close aide tested positive for the virus, but he flew to Orlando this week to break bread with DeSantis, meet tourism executives, and visit a retirement community.
“I really think Florida has set the pace,” he said after delivering personal protective equipment to Westminster Baldwin Park senior living center. “You have a large senior population here. The way you have deployed testing, the way you implemented and echoed federal guidance is commendable.”
However, critics rounded on the administration, accusing them of doing too little too late to help Florida’s battered workforce.
Florida’s economy, reliant on tourism, has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic. More than 2 million people have filed unemployment claims, of a pre-pandemic workforce of 10 million, and its theme parks stand idle.
The final two counties in Florida began the first phase of DeSantis’s reopening plan on Wednesday. It means a swath of nonessential businesses are now open across the state, although bars, nightclubs, and theme parks remain shut.
While both DeSantis and Pence wore masks during the visit to the retirement home, they put on a public show of confidence, going maskless at a branch of Beth’s Burger Bar.
Owner Beth Steele, who runs four locations, said she had lost 80% of her business, despite doing delivery and takeout during the pandemic.
She told the vice president her peanut burger was the bestseller.
“I love peanut butter, I have never had a peanut butter burger,” said Pence, before ordering a cheeseburger with pickles and fries. He helped himself to a drink from the soda station.
Staff were not wearing masks. But new hygiene measures were in operation, including reduced capacity and separate jars on the counter marked “sanitized” and “not sanitized” for pens.
Despite last week’s pause, Pence has embarked on a busy travel schedule during the past month. Aides say his trips are designed to highlight best practice as governors, mayors, and local leaders begin lifting social distancing restrictions and to demonstrate that safe travel is possible.
He visited a church in Iowa to hear how religious leaders plan to restart public services and met farmers, meat processors, and supermarket executives, who explained how they had kept shelves stocked. In Florida, he also heard from tourism executives, who discussed how they plan to reopen.
Rides at theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Sea World, remain sidelined. The parks have been shut since last month but have been told by the governor to submit for approval plans to reopen.
However, Walt Disney World Resort’s shopping, dining, and entertainment complex, Disney Springs, began to reopen on Wednesday. Visitors are required to wear masks and have their temperatures taken on arrival.
Marc Swanson, interim chief executive of SeaWorld, said he hoped to be open again before the end of June.
Opponents used the visit to accuse the vice president of mounting a “damage control tour.”
“Tourism and hospitality industry workers in Orlando, as well as hard-hit small business owners, deserve more than just a visit from the vice president,” said Kate Bedingfield, communications director for Joe Biden. “They need immediate economic relief, free and easy access to testing, and a President who will provide a comprehensive economic recovery plan for all Floridians, not just the Mar-a-Lago crowd.”
