Former VP Pence Chooses Not to Endorse Trump for President
Former Vice President Mike Pence announced on Friday that he will not be endorsing Donald Trump for a second term in the White House.
In an interview with Fox News, Pence stated, “It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year.”
The media labeled the announcement as “startling” and a “bombshell,” but the reality is that deep divisions have driven the two men apart since leaving office. An endorsement would have been unexpected.
The rift between the two began after Trump pressured Pence to help overturn his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden. When Pence refused to comply, Trump attacked him on social media. The situation escalated when Trump directed a mob of his supporters to storm the Capitol, where some even called for Pence to be harmed.
Pence mentioned that Trump’s current agenda is not aligned with the conservative agenda they governed on during their time in office.
These remarks come shortly after Trump secured enough delegates to secure the Republican nomination to challenge Biden in the next election. Pence had also been an early contender in the 2024 primary contest but dropped out last October.
Although Pence did not provide an alternative endorsement and ruled out voting for Biden, he did criticize Trump’s actions on January 6, 2021, calling them “reckless” and highlighting the danger it posed to him and his family.
Despite years of loyal service to Trump, Pence became a target of Trump’s supporters after the Capitol insurrection. He also faced scrutiny over an FBI search of his home and a subpoena related to the Capitol riot investigation.
Pence defended the accomplishments of the Trump administration during his Fox News interview but emphasized the differences between himself and Trump on various issues.
