Mike Pence, Trump's former vice president, will not support him for president | US elections 2024

Former US Vice President Mike Pence was stunned on Friday by announcing that he would not support Donald Trump in the November presidential election, raising new questions about the billionaire Republican's ability to rally his political family.

And this won't surprise you: I will not support Donald Trump this yearMike Pence, 64, said during an interview with Fox News.

However, this Republican announcement caused a surprise and broke with historical tradition.

I cannot, in good conscience, support Donald Trump in this campaign.

The Republican accused his former boss B He proposes a program that contradicts the conservative project that we put forward four years ago.

Mike Pence, an evangelical Christian and fierce opponent of abortion, helped Donald Trump take on the religious right by serving as his running mate during the 2016 presidential campaign.

The “danger” of the attack on the Capitol building

However, after years of unwavering loyalty, he changed his tune in the wake of the attack on the Capitol, which rocked American democracy on January 6, 2021.

On that day, Mike Pence, as Vice President, presided over the session in Congress during which elected officials were scheduled to certify Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election.

Although his role is only ceremonial, Donald Trump insisted on refusing to certify the Democrat's election.

The former Indiana governor did not comply, which earned him strong enmity among the billionaire's supporters. Upon forcefully entering the Capitol, some called for the “hanging” of Mike Pence, who had to hastily go into hiding.

He has since viewed the president's words as “irresponsible” and “endangered him.” In June 2023, Mike Pence ran against him in the Republican primary. However, he was forced to give up, even before the first ballot was taken, due to lack of support.

Haley refused

As for Donald Trump, who does not miss the slightest opportunity to criticize his former vice president, he did not immediately react.

However, Mike Pence's announcement has already sent shockwaves through the party, fueling speculation about the former businessman's ability to seduce Republicans beyond his loyal base of supporters.

A few days before Mike Pence's announcement, Nikki Haley, who was Donald Trump's last rival in the primaries, had already refused to support the Republican's nomination against Joe Biden.

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With the surrender of the former US ambassador on March 6United nations Under Trump, she said she believes the tempestuous septuagenarian should “deserve the votes” she received during the primaries, namely those of more moderate voters.

Donald Trump has certainly racked up a string of victories in the race for the Republican nomination, but his success in the polls has also exposed weaknesses in the former president that could complicate his reclaiming of the White House.

Surrounded by investigations, Donald Trump could see a noticeable erosion in his support among moderate Republicans and independents, essential votes if he is to defeat Democratic President Joe Biden next November.