CNN
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Former Vice President Mike Pence on Friday mentioned he “can not in good conscience” endorse presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, a shocking repudiation of his former operating mate and the president he served with.
“Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that’s at odds with the conservative agenda that we ruled on throughout our 4 years. That’s why I can not in good conscience endorse Donald Trump on this marketing campaign,” Pence mentioned on Fox Information.
The previous vp, after ending his personal presidential bid in October, withheld an endorsement within the 2024 Republican major, however he beforehand vowed to again the eventual GOP nominee. Trump had mentioned after Pence dropped out that his former vp should endorse him, saying, “I selected him, made him vp. However … individuals in politics might be very disloyal.”
Whereas he mentioned he’s “extremely proud” of the document of the Trump-Pence administration, Pence argued that the previous president has walked away from conservative points, pointing to Trump’s stance on abortion and US nationwide debt and his reversal on TikTok.
“Throughout my presidential marketing campaign, I made it clear there have been profound variations between me and President Trump on a variety of points. And never simply our distinction on my constitutional duties that I exercised January sixth,” Pence mentioned on “The Story with Martha MacCallum.”
“As I’ve watched his candidacy unfold, I’ve seen him strolling away from our dedication to confronting the nationwide debt. I’ve seen him beginning to draw back from a dedication to the sanctity of human life. And this final week, his reversal on getting robust on China and supporting our administration’s efforts to pressure a sale of ByteDance’s TikTok,” he added.
Pence didn’t reveal who he’ll vote for within the 2024 common election, saying that he’ll hold “my vote to myself.” He, nonetheless, mentioned he’ll “by no means vote” for President Joe Biden. Pence additionally prompt that he wouldn’t again a third-party candidate.
Pence broke with his boss in his resolution to not overturn the 2020 election outcomes whereas he was ceremonially overseeing Congress’ certification of Biden’s win on January 6, 2021. Pence later mentioned Trump’s “reckless phrases” that day, when a mob of Trump supporters violently breached the US Capitol, “endangered” his household and others on the US Capitol.
In his personal presidential marketing campaign final 12 months, Pence warned Republicans of the “siren music of populism” from Trump and his imitators.
Pence and his group, Advancing American Freedom, just lately introduced that they’re devoting $20 million to push conservative insurance policies.
This story has been up to date with further reporting.