Former vice president Mike Pence drew mixed reactions when he finally condemned his former boss Donald Trump in efforts to overturn the 2020 elections. A new report reveals that Pence was forced to speak out following Trump’s statements that peddled the false claim that he had such authority to overturn electoral votes.
CNN reports that Pence was compelled to speak out against Trump during his recent remarks at a Federalist Society event. At the event, the former vice president criticized Trump for claiming that he had the authority to reject electoral votes. Pence called Trump “wrong” and reiterated that the vice president has no authority to reject votes and that it is “un-American” to suggest that one person can choose who to elect to office.
Trump issued statements on both January 30 and February 1, making an inaccurate claim about the vice president’s authority in certifying the 2020 election results. Following his speech at the Federalist Society, Pence was reportedly empowered by the response to his stance on the elections.
One person with ties to the former vice president said that Pence is not looking to make his condemnation of Trump the “main storyline.” However, Pence will immediately correct false claims about him, said the person.
Pence’s speech has also been received well among other Conservatives, right-wing media outlets, and donors. Donations to Pence’s Advancing American Freedom advocacy group also saw a rise following his speech. The former vice president’s team thought the Federalist Society was the place to set the record straight as he would not be surrounded by his former boss’s MAGA base, but rather scholars and conservative lawyers.
It was highly believed that Pence’s team during his vice presidency would remain on his side even after the rift that grew between him and Trump since January 6. However, Pence’s former national security adviser Keith Kellogg shocked his former colleagues when he voiced his support for the former president rather than Pence.
Kellogg was with Pence at the Capitol when the insurrection took place. However, Kellogg said he thinks Trump was right to pressure Pence in overturning the 2020 election results.