It’s not really a surprise, but the announcement still created a shock within the Republican Party. Former US Vice President Mike Pence announced on Friday March 15 that he would not support Donald Trump in the November presidential election, raising new questions about the Republican billionaire’s ability to bring his political family together.
“This won’t surprise you, I’m not going to support Donald Trump this year,” said Mike Pence, 64, during an interview with Fox News. “I cannot, in good conscience, support Donald Trump in this campaign,” justified the Republican, accusing his former boss of proposing “a program which is in contradiction with the conservative project that we put in place for four years”.
Evangelical Christian, fierce opponent of abortion, Mike Pence helped Donald Trump conquer the religious right by being his running mate during the 2016 presidential campaign.
But after years of unwavering loyalty, he changed his tune following the assault on the Capitol, which shook American democracy on January 6, 2021. That day, Mike Pence led, as vice president , the session in Congress, during which elected officials had to certify Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. Although he only has a ceremonial role, Donald Trump insisted that he refuse to validate the election of the Democrat.
The former governor of Indiana did not comply, which earned him strong enmity among the billionaire’s supporters. Entering the Capitol by force, some had called for “hang” Mike Pence, who had to hide in a hurry. He has since ruled that the president’s words had been “irresponsible” and had it ” put in danger “.
Shock wave
In June 2023, Mike Pence ran against him in the Republican primaries. But he had to throw in the towel, even before the first ballots, for lack of support.
Donald Trump, who does not miss the slightest opportunity to criticize his former vice-president, did not react immediately. But Mike Pence’s announcement did cause a shock wave within the party, fueling speculation about the former businessman’s ability to seduce Republicans beyond his base of very loyal supporters.
A few days before Mike Pence’s announcement, Nikki Haley, who was Donald Trump’s last rival in the primaries, had already refused to support the Republican’s candidacy against Joe Biden. By throwing in the towel on March 6, the former American ambassador to the UN under Donald Trump estimated that the tempestuous septuagenarian should “deserve the votes” that she obtained during the primary, that of a more moderate electorate.
Donald Trump has certainly had a string of victories in the race for the Republican nomination, but his success at the polls has also revealed vulnerabilities in the former president which could complicate his reconquest of the White House.
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Surrounded by the investigations, Donald Trump could notably see his support erode among moderate Republicans and independents – essential votes if he wants to win against Democratic President Joe Biden in November.