- Mike Pence did not give a straight response when requested if he nonetheless thinks Trump is a great person.
- Pence was requested about a 2016 RNC speech, wherever he called Trump a “very good gentleman.”
- Pence did not say if he continue to assumed that assessment was true, stating: “Only God understands our hearts.”
Previous Vice President Mike Pence — who is staying coy about his possess 2024 presidential bid — was requested if he nevertheless thinks Trump is a “great person.” He failed to give a straight respond to.
NPR’s Steve Inskeep questioned Pence on Monday about a 2016 speech the latter built when accepting the nomination for the vice presidency. Inskeep brought up how, in that speech, Pence known as Trump a “very good gentleman.”
Inskeep then asked if Pence continue to stands by that statement.
“President Trump was completely wrong on January 6 in arguing that I had the authority to overturn the election. But I am going to always be proud of the history that we developed for the American men and women, Steve,” Pence explained.
“When you happen to be proud of the document, you did not just phone him a fantastic man yet again,” Inskeep pressed Pence.
“Nicely, glance, I actually do think that only God is familiar with our hearts. I’ll depart it to others to make their have judgments,” Pence stated.
“But I ought to explain to you that the president and I relished a shut doing work marriage. And I know it might — it may perhaps strike people today in a stunning style,” Pence explained.
—Steve Inskeep (@NPRinskeep) November 22, 2022
Pence has experienced a tense relationship with his former boss, particularly after Trump tried using and unsuccessful to get him to overturn the 2020 election. The Washington Post reported in June that Pence has not spoken to Trump in a lot more than a 12 months.
A tipping place in Pence and Trump’s romance arrived during the January 6 Capitol riot, when quite a few Trump supporters turned on Pence when he broke with Trump and licensed the vote.
Some Trump supporters erected makeshift gallows and chanted “cling Mike Pence” throughout the Capitol riot — actions that Trump privately expressed aid for, the January 6 panel unveiled. Trump also tweeted during the assault that Pence did not have “the bravery to do what really should have been carried out.”
White Dwelling aides also instructed the January 6 panel that Trump had a “heated” get in touch with with Pence on January 6, 2021. In the course of the get in touch with, Trump called Pence a “pussy” for certifying the electoral vote depend, among the other profanities, for each aides’ testimony to the panel.
Though Pence has by and large held back from attacking Trump, he has been outspoken about his choice to not support Trump in overturning the 2020 vote. In February, he advised the Federalist Society that “Trump is wrong” about him having the proper to overturn the election.”
Pence also stated in November 2021 that he was guided by the Bible and founding father James Madison when he licensed the vote.
Pence has not declared if he will run for president. In October, he was coy about no matter whether he would vote for Trump in 2024, stating there “could be somebody else I might want far more” to be president.
A representative for Pence did not promptly respond to Insider’s request for comment.