Former Vice President Mike Pence made headlines on Friday when he announced that he would not be endorsing Donald Trump for the upcoming presidential election. In an interview on Fox News, Pence stated that he “could not in good conscience” support Trump, despite the former president clinching the Republican nomination.
Pence’s decision not to endorse Trump comes as a surprise to many, especially considering that some of Trump’s previous rivals, such as Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Tim Scott, have already fallen in line behind the presumptive nominee. When asked if he would vote for Trump in November, Pence replied, “I would never vote for Joe Biden,” but did not confirm his support for Trump.
Throughout his brief presidential campaign, Pence struggled to gain traction with voters who remained loyal to Trump. Despite seeking credit for the Trump-Pence administration’s accomplishments, Pence repeatedly criticized Trump for his actions during the January 6th attack on the Capitol. This ultimately led to a rift between the two men, with Pence refusing to block the certification of the 2020 election results as Trump had demanded.
Pence expressed disappointment in Trump’s candidacy, citing concerns about his stance on issues such as the national debt, the sanctity of human life, and his recent reversal on China policy. Despite ruling out a third-party or independent run for president, Pence made it clear that he remains a Republican but cannot support Trump in the upcoming election.
The Trump campaign has yet to respond to Pence’s announcement, leaving many wondering how this development will impact the upcoming election. With Pence breaking ranks with his former running mate, the political landscape continues to shift as the race for the presidency heats up.
