Mike Pence Takes Aim at Donald Trump: ‘Deviated From This Record’

Former Vice President Mike Pence has taken aim at Donald Trump, suggesting the President has “deviated” from the conservative principles that defined his first term.

Pence told Fox News that Trump’s administration needed to maintain the nation’s active global influence, rather than turn to isolationism.

Newsweek has contacted the White House and Pence’s nonprofit Advancing American Freedom via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Pence declined to endorse Trump in 2024 following Trump’s refusal to concede the 2020 election. They fell out after the January 6, 2021 riots, when Trump encouraged his supporters minutes after being told Pence was in danger. Trump’s supporters, who had been chanting “Hang Mike Pence,” came within 40 feet of the vice president’s hiding place.

Since then, Pence has become a spokesman for traditional conservatism in the Republican Party, clashing with the dominant MAGA populists. He is regularly booed by Trump’s supporters when he attends GOP events, although the two men shook hands at Jimmy Carter’s funeral.

What To Know

Pence’s nonprofit Advancing American Freedom posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, writing: “The first Trump administration was defined by its strong pro-life record and tough stance on China. Some of the administration’s positions have deviated from this record.”

The post included a link to a Monday Fox News article, which quoted Pence speaking to a group of reporters in Washington D.C. about the need for America to take an active role on the world stage.

“There have been voices of isolationism that have been emerging in our party of late,” the article reported Pence as saying. “I’m not yet convinced that they represent the president’s views.”

Trump, meanwhile, has promised to withdraw the U.S. from “endless wars” abroad, has suggested withdrawing from NATO, and in his first week in office froze almost all the U.S. foreign aid programs across the world.

“Whatever remains of my bully pulpit, is to be an anchor to windward for traditional conservatism within the Republican Party,” Pence said, according to Fox News.

He also suggested the Trump administration “doesn’t fully appreciate” the dangers of Chinese-owned TikTok, which the President temporarily unbanned on his first day in office.

“The [Chinese Communist Party] thinks the principal value of TikTok is the ability to impact public opinion at a critical moment,” Pence said, according to Fox News. “People that are in their 20s and 30s today could be in the Senate, in the House in 10 years. The fact that the Chinese Communist Party is collecting data on Americans, whatever their age or experience is, is not something to be dismissed.”

On the issue of defending Taiwan, if China were to invade the self-governed island Beijing views as part of its territory, Pence was reported as saying: “There’s an old saying, ‘Never say what you’ll never do.’

“We ought to have one hand extended in friendship in exchange, and the other hand resting comfortably on the holster of the arsenal of democracy.”

What People Are Saying

Gunther Eagleman, a MAGA commentator with 1.2 million followers, on X: “You are a traitor Mike! An irrelevant sellout.”

Donald Trump, to Bloomberg in July, casting doubt over whether he would defend Taiwan from China: “Taiwan is 9,500 miles away. It’s 68 miles away from China.” He added in reference to the U.S. support of the island: “I don’t think we’re any different from an insurance policy.”

What Happens Next

Pence and his nonprofit Advancing American Freedom will likely seek to influence the direction of the GOP in favor of traditional conservatism during Trump’s second term. Meanwhile, Trump will use his majorities in the House, the Senate, and a conservative majority on the Supreme Court to implement his populist agenda.