Mike Pence Refuses to Endorse Donald Trump
Facts
- Former Vice Pres. Mike Pence on Friday announced that he will not endorse Donald Trump, alleging that his former running mate and the president he served with is pursuing a platform 'at odds with the conservative agenda' they governed on for four years.1
- Pence argued that Trump seems to have walked away from conservative principles, pointing to the presumptive GOP nominee's views on abortion and national debt and an alleged softening of a tough-on-China stance.2
- On Sunday, he said he 'respect[s] the right of Republican voters' to vote for Trump in November. However, Pence evaded questions on whether he would follow suit.3
- After ending his presidential bid in October, Pence withheld an endorsement in the 2024 Republican primary. However, he said he'll 'never vote' for Pres. Joe Biden or back a third-party candidate.4
- Trump clinched the 2024 Republican presidential nomination last Tuesday, the same day Biden won the Democratic party's nomination.5
- Pence, who presided over the Jan. 6 vote certification, reportedly enraged Trump and many of his supporters for his refusal to return disputed electoral votes to the states.6
Sources: 1FOX News, 2WSJ, 3The Guardian, 4CNN, 5Business Insider and 6PJ Media.
Narratives
- Anti-Trump narrative, as provided by Washington Post. Though several prominent Trump-skeptical Republicans have already endorsed the former president as if there were no alternative to him other than Joe Biden, Mike Pence has boldly offered a permission structure for Republicans whose endorsements are still up for grabs. There are mounting reasons not to back Trump — either for not being a real conservative or for being a threat to democracy.
- Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by The Washington Times. If Mike Pence had been a true Republican, as he claims to be, he would have endorsed Trump by now, as the former president has already clinched the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. This friendly fire from 'Republican in Name Only' elites is the only thing that can prevent Trump from becoming the 47th president. Yet, even they know that another Biden term would threaten the very viability of the republic.