Pence slams Trump, launches 2024 campaign with constitutional focus

In a recent speech launching his 2024 presidential campaign, former US vice-president Mike Pence delivered his strongest criticism of Donald Trump yet. Pence accused the former president of betraying the US constitution and abandoning conservative values. The speech in Ankeny, Iowa, marked the official start of Pence’s White House campaign, which puts him in direct competition with his former running mate, whom he served under from 2017 to 2021.

During the speech, Pence claimed that Trump had incited the mob that attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, and had wrongly stated that Pence had the authority to overturn the election result. “But the American people deserve to know that on that day, President Trump also demanded that I choose between him and the constitution,” he said. “Now, voters will be faced with the same choice: I chose the constitution and I always will.”

Pence, 64 years old, argued that Trump’s actions on January 6 should disqualify him from holding office again. “I believe that anyone who puts themselves over the constitution should never be president of the United States,” he said. “And anyone who asked someone else to put them over the constitution should never be president of the United States again.”

The former vice-president also criticized Democratic President Joe Biden, claiming that neither he nor Trump resemble average Americans who know how to “treat each other with kindness and respect even when we disagree”. Pence also targeted another Republican 2024 contender, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, condemning his recent comments on the war in Ukraine.

Pence was among eight Republican presidential candidates who attended a fundraiser at the Iowa state fairground, known as the Roast and Ride, last weekend. He arrived on a Harley Davidson, accompanied by a convoy of bikers raising money for military veterans. However, his speech paled in comparison to the more energetic performance of Ron DeSantis, who received a warmer reception from the audience.

According to a Reuters-Ipsos poll released last month, Pence is polling at 5%, compared to 44% for Trump. Todd Wilson, a former Trump voter, said he felt Pence “needs to be a little bit stronger”. He added, “I think if you’re going to be the president, you got to have to have a little bit of a bulldog in you. So I’m looking for that out of Pence.”

The Republican field for the 2024 nomination is becoming increasingly crowded, with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie launching a bid on Tuesday and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announcing his candidacy on Wednesday.

Throughout their four years in office, Pence was seen as a consistently loyal deputy to Trump. However, he has distanced himself from the former president since the US Capitol riot. Trump had pressured Pence to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory during the certification of results in Congress and criticized him for lacking “courage” when he refused. Some rioters were heard chanting “hang Mike Pence” as they stormed the halls of Congress, leading many Trump supporters to view him as a traitor.