Special Poll
On Friday, former Vice President Mike Pence declared he won’t back Donald Trump in the 2024 election, highlighting the rift that has grown between them post-administration. During a Fox News interview with Martha MacCallum, Pence, after his own 2024 presidential bid fell short, expressed, “It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year.”
Pence reminisced about the accomplishments of their administration but acknowledged stark disagreements with Trump. “I’m incredibly proud of the record of our administration… But during my presidential campaign, I made clear there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues,” he stated.
As Trump emerges as the likely Republican nominee, Pence has consistently voiced that he lacked the authority to overturn the 2020 election results, a point of contention with Trump’s insistence on the contrary. Pence critiqued Trump’s January 6 actions, his stance on the national debt, abortion, and TikTok, indicating a divergence from their administration’s conservative policies.
“And that’s why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign,” Pence asserted, making it clear, however, that he wouldn’t support Biden either.
Despite his once staunch loyalty as vice president, Pence has evolved into a vocal critic of Trump, especially during his primary campaign. He cautioned the Republican Party against populist inclinations and scrutinized Trump’s commitment to conservative principles.
Pence’s decision aligns him with other former Trump rivals like Chris Christie and Nikki Haley, who also have withheld their endorsements. Meanwhile, figures like Tim Scott, Ron DeSantis, Doug Burgum, and Vivek Ramaswamy have endorsed Trump.
Last month, Pence’s advocacy group announced plans to invest $20 million to influence the conservative agenda and support conservative candidates, signaling his continued engagement in shaping the party’s future.