Mike Pence Slams Trump’s Administration for Abandoning Conservative Values
Mike Pence unleashed a brutal assessment of President Donald Trump’s second administration, declaring it has “departed” from the foundational conservative principles that once defined the Republican Party.
Pence, who held the vice presidency from 2017 to 2021, made these remarks during an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” He asserted that the current administration has abandoned the conservative agenda that has been a hallmark since Ronald Reagan’s era, emphasizing the importance of American leadership, limited government, free market economics, and the right to life.
Despite his harsh critique, Pence acknowledged Trump’s past successes, stating, “on a number of those issues, the president’s been good.” He recognized Trump’s significant grip on Republican voters, saying, “I give him all the credit in the world for the hold that he has on Republican voters.”
The former vice president expressed confidence that GOP voters still resonate with core conservative values. He told moderator Kristen Welker that if Republicans uphold these time-honored principles in upcoming elections, “those voters will rally to our cause.”
Pence noted that while GOP primary voters may lean towards Trump-aligned candidates, he believes most in the MAGA movement support America’s role as a global leader and advocate for limited government, lower taxes, and fewer regulations. He warned against ideas like nationalization of businesses and broad-based tariffs, asserting that at the heart of their movement lies a commitment to the sanctity of life.
Pence cautioned that the values espoused by Trump’s second administration could jeopardize Republican prospects in the midterm elections. He claimed that any potential victories would stem from Democrats being perceived as too radical.
“I think in many respects Republicans have lost our way, but Democrats have lost their mind,” he said, highlighting the Texas Senate race as a critical example.
In recent developments, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn for the GOP Senate nomination, setting up a showdown against Democratic nominee James Talarico.
Pence also took aim at the Justice Department’s “anti-weaponization fund,” which allocates nearly $1.8 billion for individuals who feel unfairly targeted by federal authorities. A federal judge recently issued a temporary block on this fund.
He labeled the fund as a “bad idea from the start” and urged the administration to abandon it. Pence expressed outrage over the possibility that January 6 rioters could receive payouts from this fund, calling it “deeply offensive.” Trump had previously pardoned around 1,500 individuals charged for their actions during the Capitol riot.
Pence was present at the Capitol during the certification of the 2020 election results when the riot erupted and had to be evacuated. He believes his disapproval of the fund is widely shared among Republicans and Americans alike.
“It’s deeply offensive to me that you could have a fund that could even possibly compensate people who assaulted police officers or vandalized the Capitol on Jan. 6,” he stated, asserting that this sentiment resonates broadly among Republicans and most Americans.
