Mike Pence has unleashed his condemnation of Donald Trump yet again for the events surrounding January 6 in the latest open dissent against the former president from within his own party.
Pence gave an interview to ABC in which he opened up on his thoughts on Trump’s allegedly “reckless” behavior on the day Congress was set to certify the vote of the Electoral College — an act Pence oversaw in his role as vice president.
Central to Pence’s anger with his former commander-in-chief was a tweet from Trump during the chaotic events of that day.
“Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!” tweeted Trump.
Pence had broken with Trump the day before when he sent a letter to lawmakers in which he declared that he did not have the authority to interfere in the certification of the Electoral College by Congress.
“It is my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not,” he wrote.
Pence ended his letter to lawmakers with the phrase “So Help Me God,” which will also serve as the title of his upcoming memoir that is set to be released on Tuesday.
At a rally the week before, Trump told the crowd, “I hope Mike is going to do the right thing. If Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election.”
“If he doesn’t,” Trump said later, “that will be a sad day for our country.”
When Pence saw the tweet from Trump on January 6, he was immediately “angered.”
Pence recollected on the lead-up to the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 and placed the blame squarely on Trump, claiming it put him and his family in personal jeopardy.
“The president’s words were reckless, and his actions were reckless,” he suggested. “The president’s words that day at the rally [on January 6] endangered me and my family and everyone at the Capitol building.”
Less than an hour after Trump tweeted that Pence did not have the courage “to protect our Country and our Constitution,” he attempted to communicate to those who had breached the Capitol and argued for peace.
“I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!” Trump tweeted.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, this tweet by Trump, as well as a video message calling for peace, were suppressed by social media platforms.
It has been speculated that Pence is angling to run for the presidency in 2024 and preparing to break completely from Trump.
Weeks before the November national elections, Pence was asked if he would support Trump for president should he run again.
“Well, there might be somebody else I’d prefer more,” he responded.