Mike Pence slams Trump and his GOP ‘imitators’ for lurching away from conservatism
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, former Vice President Mike Pence expressed his concerns that former President Donald Trump and some of his fellow Republican primary contenders are moving away from core conservative values.
This statement comes ahead of a significant speech Pence is set to deliver, titled “Populism vs. Conservatism: Republicans’ Time for Choosing,” at Saint Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics.
Pence emphasized that the Republican Party faces a critical choice, not just among candidates but also in terms of its governance philosophy.
He referred to this moment as a “Republican time for choosing,” a clear nod to the late President Ronald Reagan, who famously used the same phrase in a pivotal 1964 speech supporting conservative Barry Goldwater’s presidential campaign.
The speech comes three weeks before the second GOP presidential nomination debate, hosted by Fox Business, to be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. Pence believes the Republican Party is engaged in a healthy debate, where it must decide between adhering to traditional conservative principles, such as a strong national defense, American leadership, limited government, fiscal responsibility, traditional values, and the right to life, or veering toward populism.
Pence’s message focuses on reminding people that he represents a campaign with a proven, consistent, conservative record. He aims to lead the party back to the principles that have historically strengthened and liberated the United States.
He originally spotlighted this message in a speech at the Heritage Foundation in October, where he warned against the rise of populism within the GOP. As he launched his 2024 White House campaign in June, Pence reiterated the importance of the Republican Party upholding the Constitution.
In current GOP nomination polls, Pence is polling in the single digits, lagging behind most of the contenders. Former President Trump, who is making his third consecutive White House run, leads the race by a substantial margin.
Pence acknowledged that when Trump ran in 2016, he promised conservative governance and delivered on that promise during his presidency, including rebuilding the military, cutting taxes, rolling back regulations, promoting American energy, and appointing conservative judges.
However, Pence expressed concern that Trump and some of his rivals in the 2024 GOP presidential race no longer make the same commitment to conservative principles. While Pence did not explicitly name any specific candidate, it is likely that he was referring to contenders like Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and Trump defender, who has gained traction in the polls by positioning himself as an outsider.
Pence’s campaign team clarified that his speech is not targeting any single candidate but aims to emphasize the value of conservatism in the Republican Party. Despite Trump’s influence on the party’s direction over the past eight years, Pence and his team believe it is not too late to make a compelling case for conservatism.
Pence concluded that the majority of Republican primary voters and Americans understand that a commitment to strong national defense, American leadership, fiscal responsibility, and traditional values is an agenda that will lead to a more prosperous, secure, and free America.
