Vice President Mike Pence will visit Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota on Tuesday, April 28.
During his visit, Pence will tour the Clinic’s research facilities that are dedicated to the fight against coronavirus. He also plans to meet with healthcare workers, according to KIMT. The Vice President will return to Washington DC at the conclusion of his visit and will not stay in Rochester overnight.
This visit is part of a wider tour of the Midwest. On Tuesday, the Vice President viewed a General Electric (GE) manufacturing facility that makes ventilators, which have been in short supply as of late. There, he praised factory workers who are producing much needed medical equipment.
“GE Healthcare and union machinists here are saving lives. There’s no question. Thanks for not waiting to be asked. Thanks for stepping up and leaning in,” Pence said, per local media.
GE also expressed their gratitude for the VP’s visit and support on Twitter.
Our team of volunteers and employees are hard at work ramping up production of ventilators in Madison, WI. Thank you to @Mike_Pence for visiting and supporting them today #COVID19 https://t.co/jVFrAKekR2
— Hard at work for those on the frontlines (@GEHealthcare) April 21, 2020
Next week won’t be the first time Pence has appeared in Minnesota since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In March, he met with 3M executives in St. Paul about the company’s role in manufacturing medical masks amidst shortages, according to the Pioneer Press.
Pence is optimistic about the national battle against the virus. He predicted Wednesday that the situation will be mostly resolved by summer.
“Americans are going to be able to enjoy a good summer,” he said, according to the New York Post.
“We truly do believe as we move forward, with responsibly beginning to reopen the economy in state after state around the country, that by early June, we could be at a place where this coronavirus epidemic is largely in the past,” he said.
RNC Spokesperson Preya Samsundar indicated that the Trump administration will continue to aggressively fight the Coronavirus pandemic saying “Vice President Mike Pence’s trip to the Mayo Clinic reinforces the Trump Administration’s commitment to fighting the coronavirus across the country. As they continue to show bold and decisive leadership, Minnesotans know that President Trump and Vice President Pence will continue to fight for them and those on the front lines by putting the American people first.”
Kyle Hooten
Kyle Hooten is Managing Editor of Alpha News. His coverage of Minneapolis has been featured on television shows like Tucker Carlson Tonight and in print media outlets like the Wall Street Journal.
