In a surprising turn of events, former Vice President Mike Pence announced on Friday that he could not, in good faith, endorse the presumptive GOP nominee, Donald Trump. This marks a significant break from his former running mate and the president he once served.
“Donald Trump’s current political agenda starkly contrasts with the conservative principles we upheld during our four-year tenure. This divergence is why I cannot endorse him in this campaign,” Pence stated during his appearance on Fox News.
Despite withholding his endorsement during the 2024 Republican primary following the conclusion of his own presidential bid in October, Pence had previously pledged to support the eventual GOP nominee. He expressed immense pride in the accomplishments of the Trump-Pence administration but criticized Trump for deviating from conservative issues. Pence highlighted Trump’s changing stance on abortion, the national debt, and his recent reversal on TikTok.
“Throughout my presidential campaign, I emphasized the significant differences between President Trump and me on a multitude of issues, not just our differing views on my constitutional duties, which I upheld on January 6th,” Pence said. “As I’ve observed his campaign, I’ve noticed his departure from our commitment to addressing the national debt and his wavering commitment to the sanctity of human life. His recent reversal on taking a hard stance on China and supporting our administration’s efforts to force ByteDance’s TikTok sale was the last straw,” he added.
While Pence refrained from revealing his choice for the 2024 general election, stating he would keep “my vote to myself,” he made it clear that he would “never vote” for President Joe Biden. He also hinted at not supporting a third-party candidate.
Pence’s decision not to overturn the 2020 election results while ceremonially overseeing Congress’ certification of Biden’s win on January 6, 2021, marked a significant break from Trump. Pence later criticized Trump’s “reckless words” on that day, stating they “endangered” his family and others at the US Capitol.
In his presidential campaign last year, Pence cautioned Republicans against the “siren song of populism” emanating from Trump and his followers. Recently, Pence and his group, Advancing American Freedom, announced their commitment to promoting conservative policies with a $20 million investment.
This story has been updated with additional reporting.