Former Vice President Mike Pence stands with former Gov. Gary Herbert at an occasion on the Zions Financial institution Constructing in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, April 28, 2023. The occasion was hosted by the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Coverage at Utah Valley College. Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
Former Vice President Mike Pence and his spouse, Karen Pence, arrive at an occasion on the Zions Financial institution Constructing in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, April 28, 2023. The occasion was hosted by the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Coverage at Utah Valley College. Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at an occasion on the Zions Financial institution Constructing in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, April 28, 2023. The occasion was hosted by the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Coverage at Utah Valley College. Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
Former Vice President Mike Pence spoke at a non-public occasion in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday in regards to the “tragedy” of the occasions on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, his associated grand jury testimony on Thursday, and what he thinks the Republican Occasion ought to give attention to going into the 2024 election.
Pence has been floated as a possible presidential candidate, and he seems to be making ready for a run as he crisscrosses the U.S. doing talking occasions in help of his memoir, “So Assist Me God.”
Recognized for his robust Christian religion, Pence mentioned his e book was a file of “God’s faithfulness” in each he and his spouse, Karen, who was additionally on the occasion.
The occasion was hosted by former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, along side the general public coverage institute named for Herbert at Utah Valley College. Herbert requested Pence questions and the 2 former governors — Pence was the governor of Indiana within the 2010s — joked about their earlier interactions.
Pence’s go to to Utah got here only a day after he testified to a grand jury for seven hours. The jury is exploring whether or not prison expenses must be filed in opposition to former President Donald Trump for his position in looking for to overturn the 2020 election outcomes.
Earlier this week, a federal appeals court docket rejected Trump’s try to cease Pence from testifying. Pence had additionally opposed the grand jury subpoena on the grounds that his position as president of the Senate ought to present him congressional privilege. In that case, Pence was allowed to keep away from some traces of questioning over the battle.
Pence has not shied away from speaking about his anger with Trump over his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, when protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol Constructing. In his memoir, Pence mentioned he instructed Trump he was “indignant” over Trump’s actions that day. He additionally recounted how he, his spouse and daughter needed to huddle within the Capitol storage to flee rioters who have been reportedly chanting, “Dangle Mike Pence!”
Pence demurred when Herbert requested him about what he mentioned in his seven hours of grand jury testimony the day earlier than, saying he was “very restricted” in what he may focus on.
Former Vice President Mike Pence and his spouse, Karen Pence, arrive at an occasion on the Zions Financial institution Constructing in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, April 28, 2023. The occasion was hosted by the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Coverage at Utah Valley College.
Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
“If individuals are interested by what I'd say, you'll be able to have a look at the interviews that I’ve performed over the past six months, and you'll learn the pages of my e book,” he mentioned.
The viewers gave Pence a sustained standing ovation after he spoke about his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, and the way he believed it was a “tragic day,” that “turned a triumph of freedom,” as a result of the establishments and Structure held robust.
“I'll all the time consider by God’s grace — with my spouse at my facet the entire day, the entire evening, and our daughter beside her — I’ll all the time consider it was by God’s grace that we did our obligation that day below the Structure of the US,” he mentioned.
He additionally declined to reply a query about his plans for a presidential run in 2024. He has hovered in third or fourth place in early presidential main polls, trailing behind Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Pence’s determination to run will seemingly be primarily based on his capacity to boost cash, and on whether or not he is ready to seize the lane as soon as held by conservative evangelical Republicans. He could have some competitors in that lane from different candidates, together with South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott who's exploring a run.
Pence did appear to attempt to set himself aside from Trump and DeSantis with a extra optimistic message.
“I’ve typically mentioned to folks, ‘I’m a conservative however I’m not in a nasty temper about it,’” he mentioned.
Pence additionally weighed in on what he thought the Republican Occasion ought to give attention to within the lead-up to the election, saying candidates ought to give attention to “the longer term.”
Within the 2022 midterms, these caught up on “re-litigating the previous,” he mentioned, “didn't truthful as properly” — making a not-so-veiled reference to candidates who have been centered on false claims that the 2020 election was rigged.
Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at an occasion on the Zions Financial institution Constructing in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, April 28, 2023. The occasion was hosted by the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Coverage at Utah Valley College.
Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
He additionally mentioned repeatedly that the issues confronted by the nation would even be solved by means of robust management.
Pence had harsh phrases for the insurance policies of the Biden administration, saying he thought Democrats had been “overtaken by the politics of the unconventional left.”
His criticisms centered on Biden’s insurance policies on immigration, power, spending and overseas protection.
“I’m right here to inform you hope is on the best way,” he mentioned. “I actually do consider we're eight months away from a terrific American comeback and it’ll begin proper right here.”
When requested what he thought the most important challenges have been dealing with the nation, Pence named the rise of China and the nation’s debt.
He mentioned China was a “strategic and financial risk to the vitality and way forward for the US.”
On the debt, Pence spoke about his worries for his three granddaughters — and he touched the so-called “third rail” of politics by talking in favor of entitlement reform.
Regardless of doable blowback from Trump, who has criticized his fellow Republicans who're keen to talk in favor of Social Safety and Medicare reform, Pence mentioned Social Safety must be reformed for youthful employees — those that don’t share his white hair shade, he mentioned.
He additionally acknowledged the Trump-Pence administration didn’t do “every little thing we wanted to do to rein in spending.” Throughout their administration, the nationwide debt elevated earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, after which shot up in its wake.
Herbert additionally requested Pence about immigration.
Whereas Pence and Trump have been recognized for his or her give attention to a border wall, Herbert mentioned lawmakers additionally want to offer a “gate” for immigrants. Pence mentioned immigration reform ought to begin with border safety, however he mentioned there was a have to “repair the doorways.”
On lawmakers’ lack of ability to compromise, Pence mentioned Washington acts after they really feel a “gale-force wind” of strain from the American folks.
He additionally spoke in regards to the want for civility in Washington, and his friendship with the late Democratic congressman John Lewis of Georgia. Whereas he didn’t agree with Lewis politically, the 2 struck up a friendship, he mentioned, resulting in Lewis inviting Pence to guide a commemorative stroll throughout the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in 2010.
On the Republican Occasion’s struggles with youthful voters, Pence mentioned he thinks the youthful era values freedom, and he mentioned that can finally drive them away from Democratic insurance policies.