Former Vice President Mike Pence has announced his candidacy for the presidency in a video released on Wednesday. Pence emphasized the need for “different leadership” in the current times, without directly mentioning his former boss, Donald Trump, or the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In his announcement video, Pence portrayed the race as a battle against the “radical left” and President Joe Biden, stating that the country is in trouble and needs a leader who can appeal to the better angels of our nature, quoting Abraham Lincoln. He expressed his commitment to running for president and working to turn the country around. He said Trump told him to ‘overturn the election,’ a crime.
During a campaign kickoff event in Des Moines, Iowa, Pence reiterated his message, emphasizing his belief that he can bring the country back and address various challenges such as national security, the economy, and the budget deficit. He stressed the need for new leadership in the White House and the Republican Party.
“We’re better than this. We can turn this country around, but different times call for different leadership. Today, our party and our country need a leader that will appeal, as [Abraham] Lincoln said, to the better angels of our nature,” Pence said in the video. “It’d be easy to stay on the sidelines — but that’s not how I was raised. That’s why today, before God and my family, I’m announcing I’m running for president of the United States.”
“I know we can bring this country back. We can defend our nation and secure our border. We can revive our economy. We can put our nation back on a path to a balanced budget,” Pence said in his speech. “We can defend our liberties and give America a new beginning for life. But it will require new leadership — in the White House and the Republican Party.”
While Pence acknowledged the accomplishments of the Trump administration, including tax cuts and the fight against ISIS, he also highlighted his differences with Trump regarding the January 6 incident. Pence mentioned that his family’s safety was endangered that day and stated that he chose the Constitution over allegiance to Trump when faced with the choice.
Pence made it clear that anyone who disregards the Constitution should “never” be president, although he didn’t mention Trump by name. He acknowledged the disappointment some people still feel about the outcome of the 2020 election but emphasized that elections are about the future. Pence cited differences in values and policies as the reason for his decision to challenge Trump in the 2024 presidential race, suggesting that Trump has strayed from his conservative promises.
Pence’s campaign will focus on a vision grounded in freedom and unity, aiming to appeal to the better nature of the American people. He will be actively campaigning in Iowa, an early-voting state, as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination for 2024.
