- Pence dodged a query about whether or not he would vote for Trump once more in 2024.
- “Nicely, there is perhaps any individual else I would want extra,” Pence mentioned, smiling.
- He mentioned he’s now targeted on the midterm elections, however will take into consideration “the longer term” after that.
Former Vice President Mike Pence coyly dodged a query about whether or not he would vote for former President Donald Trump once more in 2024.
Pence was answering questions throughout an occasion at Georgetown College on Wednesday. He was requested by a scholar if he would vote for Trump if his ex-boss grew to become the 2024 Republican nominee for president.
Pence paused for a second earlier than smiling and saying: “Nicely, there is perhaps any individual else I would want extra.”
The previous vice-president added that he had “each confidence that the Republican Occasion goes to type out management.”
“All my focus has been on the midterm elections and it’ll keep that manner for the subsequent 20 days,” Pence mentioned.
“However after that, we’ll be fascinated by the longer term, ours and the nation’s. And I am going to maintain you posted, okay?” he advised the coed.
Pence has not introduced a presidential run himself. However a former Pence adviser, Olivia Troye, advised CNN in July that Pence has lengthy “desired” the presidency himself, calling this a “identified factor in Pence’s orbit.”
Troye made these feedback when Pence made a visit to Capitol Hill in July, his first since leaving workplace in January 2021. There, he was lauded by GOP lawmakers for “defending our Structure” on the day of the Capitol riot.
Pence now has a strained relationship with Trump after the latter tried and didn’t get him to overturn the 2020 election.
In June, White Home aides advised the January 6 panel Trump had a “heated” name with Pence on the morning of January 6, 2021. Throughout this name, Trump spouted profanities at his vp and referred to as him a “pussy” for presiding over Congress’ certification of the 2020 vote depend, per aides’ testimony to the panel.
Many Trump supporters turned on Pence when he broke together with his then-boss and authorized the vote. Some erected makeshift gallows and chanted “grasp Mike Pence” through the Capitol riot — actions that Trump later privately expressed assist for, the Jan. 6 panel revealed. Trump additionally tweeted through the assault that Pence didn’t have “the braveness to do what ought to have been accomplished.”
For his half, Pence has stood by his determination to not assist overturn the election. In February, he advised the Federalist Society that “Trump is incorrect” about him having the precise to overturn the election.” Throughout that occasion, Pence additionally referred to as the concept one man might select the president “un-American.”
Pence additionally mentioned in November 2021 that he was guided by the Bible and founding father James Madison when he stood as much as Trump and authorized the vote. “Psalm 15 says he retains his oath even when it hurts,” Pence mentioned on the time, referencing his oath of workplace to defend the Structure.
Pence additionally distanced himself from Trump after the Capitol riot. The Washington Put up reported in June that Pence has not spoken to Trump in additional than a yr. The Put up spoke to Pence’s advisers, who mentioned the previous vp has turned down a number of invites to go to Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Representatives for Trump didn’t instantly reply to Insider’s request for remark. A spokesman for Pence didn’t instantly reply to Insider’s query on Pence’s intention to run for president in 2024.
