In a recent appearance on the Indiana 250 Off the Record podcast, Pence outlined his reasons for withholding support from Trump’s current bid for the presidency. The former vice president, who served from January 2017 to January 2021, articulated four key concerns:
- Election certification dispute: Pence criticized Trump’s persistent claims that he should have blocked the certification of the 2020
presidential election results. - Foreign policy shift: He expressed unease over what he perceives as Trump’s move towards a more “isolationist” foreign policy stance.
- National debt: Pence raised concerns about the increasing national debt under Trump’s leadership.
- Abortion policy: He disapproved of the GOP’s 2024 policy platform, particularly its deemphasis on abortion issues.
Pence reflected on the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, during which Trump supporters chanted “Hang Mike Pence.” He said, “I couldn’t offer my endorsement because the president (Trump) has not changed his view of my constitutional duties on January 6 and also because I see President Trump leading our party away from many of the policies that we governed on for four years.”
As for potential support for Kamala Harris, Pence has remained silent regarding the social media theories suggesting he might endorse the Democratic nominee.He has not publicly backed Harris and continues to withhold his political endorsements.
Despite the speculation, Pence’s stance on Trump’s leadership and policy divergence reflects his commitment to the principles they once shared during their time in office.