At the start of his presidential campaign, former US Vice President Mike Pence criticized his main party competitor and former boss, Donald Trump. In view of the invasion of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, he accused Trump of putting him and his family in danger with words. Trump placed himself above the constitution, Pence attacked the former president head-on.
“The American people deserve to know that on that fateful day, President Trump also asked me to choose between him and the Constitution,” Pence said. Now voters would face the same decision again. “Anyone who puts himself above the Constitution should never be President of the United States,” Pence said.
Trump supporters stormed the Congressional seat on January 6, 2021, as Pence presided over confirming the victory of Democrat Joe Biden. Trump had claimed in previous days that Pence, in his capacity as president of the US Senate, could simply reject the election results of individual states, which legal experts and the vice president deemed illegal. During the storm on Capitol Hill, Trump tweeted that Pence “didn’t have the courage to do what was supposed to be done.” Chants of “Hang Pence” came from the crowd. With the attack over, Congress, chaired by Pence, concluded the confirmation of Biden’s victory.
Weakened by Biden
However, Pence has consistently denied accusations against Trump about his role in the Capitol invasion. “It would be incredibly divisive in a country at a time when the American people want to see us healed,” Pence said. He used the same reasoning to defend Trump against accusations of paying a bribe to a porn star.
Pence commented on Trump a few hours after publicly announcing his presidential candidacy. In it, he had left out his former boss. “I announce before God and my family today that I am running for President of the United States,” Pence said.
In his application video, Pence took aim at President Biden and his Democrats. “Our country is in trouble today. President Joe Biden and the far left have weakened America at home and abroad,” he said. “Out of control inflation” is destroying the American dream. Wages are falling and a recession is on the horizon. The US southern border is besieged by migrants and “enemies of freedom” are increasing around the world, Pence said.
In addition to Trump, the most prominent Republican presidential candidates are Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. In the polls, Pence is at just 5%, Trump is ahead by a wide margin. (apa, dpa)