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Following backlash, Karen Pence's team says 'both sides agreed' spouses would remove masks

As the vice presidential debate came to a close on Wednesday night, second lady Karen Pence was seen on stage without a mask when she greeted her husband — and viewers took notice. But her spokesperson says the move was previously agreed upon by both sides.

The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.

Per the rules for Wednesday's debate, everyone in the hall was subject to COVID testing and mask use. Anyone who did not wear a mask was to be escorted out.

Those who were allowed to go mask-free were Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Kamala Harris and moderator Susan Page. Safety measures were still in place, however, including a plexiglass barrier between Pence and Harris, who were seated 12 feet and 3 inches apart.

Vice President Pence and his wife tested negative for COVID-19 Wednesday, according to his spokesperson, while President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and several White House staffers have recently tested positive.

And while Karen Pence was seen wearing a mask during the debate, she removed it off before joining her husband. Harris' husband Douglas Emhoff continued to wear his mask onstage.

In a statement to USA TODAY Thursday, the second lady's spokesperson Kara D. Brooks said the maskless moment on stage was previously agreed upon by both sides.

"Second Lady Karen followed an agreement established between both campaigns prior to the debate," the statement read. "Both sides agreed that the spouses would remove their masks when they walked onto the stage at the end of the debate."

Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., stands with her husband Douglas Emhoff while Vice President Mike Pence stands with his wife Karen Pence during the vice presidential debate Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, at Kingsbury Hall on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., stands with her husband Douglas Emhoff while Vice President Mike Pence stands with his wife Karen Pence during the vice presidential debate Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, at Kingsbury Hall on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

MSNBC anchor Ayman Mohyeldin questioned the move.

"Sorry but where was Karen Pence’s mask when she got on stage?" he tweeted.

Actress Patricia Arquette tweeted, "Why wasn’t Mother wearing a mask?" with the hashtag #Negligent. She later added, "Mike and Karen Pence are the Elitists who think the rules just don't apply to them."

"Did you notice Karen Pence climbing on the stage after the debate without a mask—modeling bad behavior once again while the White House is a dangerous hotspot?" user @StevenBeschloss tweeted.

Singer Darren Hayes chimed in, "Mike Pence is next in line to Covid-19. Trump has it. Pence's assistant has it. Yet, Karen Pence, his wife, refused to wear a mask - on stage - at the end of the debate. That should tell you how much Republicans care about the right to life. #PenceKnew"

User @MaryBittel called the move disrespectful.

"Karen Pence proved once again that this admin is NOT respectful of the 210,000+ people who have died (from) Covid. She was foolhardy and possibly endangered others. Shame on her," she wrote.

Some jumped to the second lady's defense.

Author Harlan Z. Hill tweeted, "If the left’s biggest criticism is that Karen Pence didn’t wear a mask when she hugged her HUSBAND, then you know we won tonight,"

"I love how everyone is being a Karen over Karen Pence not wearing a mask," user @DoubleG1227 wrote.

User @TylerAndersMAGA simply wrote, "Love that Karen Pence took her mask off."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: VP debate: Karen Pence didn't wear face mask due to agreement: rep