On Friday, Former Vice President Mike Pence announced he would not endorse Donald Trump for the 2024 general election. Speaking on Fox News, Pence cited “profound differences” between their viewpoints on various issues, stating he “cannot in good conscience” support Trump.
Pence, who previously sought the Republican nomination, refrained from revealing his intended vote but asserted he would never endorse President Joe Biden. Responding to Fox News host Martha MacCallum’s inquiry, Pence said it should come as no surprise.
“It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year,” Pence said in an interview with Fox News Channel, weighing in for the first time since the former president became the presumptive GOP nominee. Pence ran against Trump for their party’s nomination but dropped his bid before voting began last year.
The decision makes Pence the latest senior Trump administration official to decline to endorse their former boss’s bid to return to the Oval Office. While Republican members of Congress and other GOP officials have primarily rallied behind Trump, a vocal minority has continued to oppose his bid.
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Throughout the interview, Pence criticized Trump’s policy agenda, asserting it diverged from their conservative principles. Despite expressing pride in their administration’s achievements, Pence emphasized discrepancies between his and Trump’s stances, particularly regarding the national deficit, abortion, and the handling of the TikTok ban.
Pence also addressed the January 6, 2021, events in which Trump pressured him to reject the 2020 election results, which strained their relationship.
“I believe anyone that puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States, and anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again,” he said during his campaign launch speech.
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When pressed about his voting intentions for the upcoming election, Pence remained tight-lipped, remarking, “Like most Americans, I’m going to keep my vote to myself.” He categorically dismissed supporting a third-party candidate, reaffirming his allegiance to the Republican Party.
Despite speculation, Pence rejected running as a third-party candidate, stating unequivocally, “I’m a Republican.” He emphasized the need to champion a mainstream conservative agenda, asserting Republican primary voters had made their preferences clear.
Pence’s decision not to endorse Trump follows his organization’s initiative to uphold conservatism as transcending any individual or election. After suspending his campaign last year, Pence faced pressure from Trump to endorse him, with Trump highlighting their past political alliance.
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Trump’s emphasis on loyalty in politics has been a recurring theme. He has targeted former rivals such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
In conclusion, Former Vice President Pence’s decision not to endorse Trump for the 2024 election underscores the ideological divisions within the Republican Party. As Pence refrains from publicly aligning himself with any candidate, his stance reflects broader tensions within conservative circles regarding the party’s future direction.
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