Pence: Trump decided to be part of the problem on Jan. 6
Former Vice President Mike Pence said in a new interview that former President Trumps tweet during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack attacking Pence was reckless.
It angered me, Pence told ABC’s David Muir. But I turned to my daughter who was standing nearby, and I said, ‘It doesn’t take courage to break the law, it takes courage to uphold the law.’
And the presidents words were reckless. Its clear he decided to be part of the problem, Pence added.
Pences remark came after Muir read Trumps 2:24 p.m. tweet on Jan. 6 as rioters were storming the Capitol with some threatening Pence. The tweet began, Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution.
EXCLUSIVE: @DavidMuir asks Mike Pence about calls the former VP made to the Pentagon, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Justice Department and Capitol Police on Jan. 6: Why wasnt the president making these calls?
Pence: Thatd be a good question for him. https://t.co/CUaA8Nv52k pic.twitter.com/aGQktY6ohQ— ABC News (@ABC) November 14, 2022
Since leaving the White House, Pence has drifted away from Trump on Jan. 6 and urged Republicans to focus on the future and not the past, a veiled swipe at Trumps preoccupation with false claims the 2020 election was stolen.
The former vice president is participating in a range of media appearances as he releases his new memoir, So Help Me God, on Tuesday.
The full ABC interview will air later Monday. Pence will also join CNNs Jake Tapper on Wednesday evening for a televised town hall and sit down with CBSs Margaret Brennan for an interview that airs on Face the Nation this Sunday.
The release of his memoir comes the same day as Trump is scheduled to hold a special announcement at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida, which is widely expected to launch Trumps rumored 2024 White House bid.
Pence is also seen as a potential presidential contender, and he has visited the early voting states of New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina. Biden tells Xi US and China should manage differences to prevent competition from becoming conflict The Hills Morning Report Democrats bask in their Senate victory
He released a freedom agenda earlier this year for Republicans in advance of the midterms as he weighed his presidential ambitions.
During an event at Georgetown University last month, Pence, when asked if he would vote for Trump in 2024 said there might be somebody else I prefer more.
All my focus has been on the midterm elections, and itll stay that way for the next 20 days. But after that, well be thinking about the future, Pence said at the event.
