The White House YT channel regularly posts his appearances.  He definitely has a role in this Administration. He does the ceremonial things, of course.  He did the 9/11 service at the Pentagon this year.  VP Pence was also in Hawaii and spoke at the Honorable Carry Ceremony when our MIA remains from North Korea were repatriated. But he also does policy speeches like this one on China.  It was Pence who outlined the Administration's Space Policy Priorities.  These are policy explanations and outlines that don't need Trump's thunder and the shit-storm that follows anything he says.  Pence is the perfect man for this job.