Former US Vice President Pence declines to endorse Trump's presidential bid

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – Former US Vice President Mike Pence announced on Friday that he will not support his former boss Donald Trump, the president under whom he served for four years, in the upcoming election.

"It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year," the former Indiana governor and former candidate for the Republican presidential nomination told Fox News.

When questioned about his change in stance, Pence referenced Jan. 6, 2021, the day of the Capitol attack, where Trump allegedly suggested Pence deserved hanging for not blocking Joe Biden's election certification.

The former vice president mainly stressed the policy differences with Trump since securing the Republican nomination, despite facing legal issues and controversies.

"I'm incredibly proud of our administration's record,” he emphasized, adding, “It was a conservative record that made America more prosperous, more secure, and saw conservatives appointed to our courts in a more peaceful world.”

“I must emphasize that throughout my presidential campaign, I underscored the significant disparities between myself and Trump on various matters, extending beyond just our disparity regarding the constitutional duties I fulfilled on January 6,” he said, alluding to Trump's departure from tackling the national debt and commitment to abortion rights.

“As I have watched his candidacy unfold, I’ve seen him walking away from our commitment to confronting the national debt. I’ve seen him starting to shy away from a commitment to the sanctity of human life,” he criticized.

Although Trump's appointments had an impact on abortion laws, Democrats gained electoral ground by championing reproductive rights, he noted.

Pence also cited Trump's policy reversals on China and TikTok, which contradicted their previous positions.

He declined to speculate on Trump's motivations but emphasized the departure from their conservative policies.

“What I can tell you is that in each of these cases, Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years,” he said.

“And that’s why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign,” he added.

Even though most Republican rivals endorse Trump, Nikki Haley and others have not, while opponents such as Adam Kinzinger have praised Pence's decision.

Former Obama aide turned commentator Tommy Vietor commended Pence's courage and bold stance.

Albeit, Pence made it clear that he would not vote for Biden, reaffirming his Republican affiliation.