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Mike Pence ran with Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. In 2024, he won't even endorse him

By Danielle Kurtzleben
Published March 15, 2024 at 5:14 PM EDT
In this file photo, then-President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Nov. 2, 2020, in Grand Rapids, Mich., with then-Vice President Mike Pence. Despite running with him twice, in 2016 and in 2020, Pence will not endorse Trump in 2024.
Evan Vucci
/
AP
In this file photo, then-President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Nov. 2, 2020, in Grand Rapids, Mich., with then-Vice President Mike Pence. Despite running with him twice, in 2016 and in 2020, Pence will not endorse Trump in 2024.

Former Vice President Mike Pence is making his feelings about the presumptive Republican nominee this year very clear.

"It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year," Pence told Fox News' Martha MacCallum Friday afternoon.

He went on to say he was "incredibly proud" of the Trump/Pence record, saying it was a conservative record that made America more prosperous and more secure. He highlighted conservative court appointments as a particular accomplishment.

But, Pence told Fox News that Trump is not conservative enough on issues including the national debt, abortion and being tough on China.

"Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years," Pence said, "and that's why I cannot, in good conscience, endorse [him] in this campaign."

As vice president, Pence certified the 2020 election results for President Biden who won the electoral college vote, just hours after Trump supporters invaded the U.S. Capitol.

Trump criticized Pence in the run up to the certification, after which some of his supporters chanted "Hang Mike Pence."

When asked how he would vote in November, Pence said he would not vote for Joe Biden, but that his vote would remain a private decision.

Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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Danielle Kurtzleben
Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk. She appears on NPR shows, writes for the web, and is a regular on The NPR Politics Podcast. She is covering the 2020 presidential election, with particular focuses on on economic policy and gender politics.
See stories by Danielle Kurtzleben
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