Former US Vice President Mike Pence kicked off his 2024 presidential campaign this Wednesday with a direct attack on former head of state Donald Trump, his rival in the Republican primary.
“I don’t think anyone who puts himself above the Constitution should be President of the United States, and anyone who asks anyone who puts himself above the Constitution should be President of the United States.”said Pence at his first campaign rally in Iowa.
In his speech, the former vice president made it clear that he wants to distance himself from Trump, the favorite candidate to clinch the 2024 Republican nomination – according to polls – and from whom Pence walked away after the January 6 attack on the Capitol. , 2021 .
In that sense, Pence presented himself as the candidate who will ensure that the Republican Party adheres to Magna Carta, unlike Trump.
The former vice president recalled the dramatic events of January 6, when the then head of state urged him to suspend the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s election victory.
“January 6th was a tragic day in the life of our nation, but thanks to the bravery of the security forces, the violence was quelled and we reconvened in Congress that very day to complete the work of the American people under the US Constitution. “recalled Pence, who had even wished his death by Trump supporters that day.
“As I have said many times, Trump’s words on that fateful day were reckless and endangered my family and the entire world.”he added.
That day, thousands of Trump supporters invaded the US Capitol as Congress convened to ratify Biden’s victory, after being urged by the magnate to march to the seat of the legislature.
Pence said the American people “deserve to know” that Trump asked them to choose between themselves and the Constitution, and that “voters now face the same choice.”
Mike Pence then advocated that the Republican Party “should be the Constitutional Party of the United States”.
“We must uphold the Constitution to protect the God-given right to life, to protect the right to keep and bear arms, to protect the right to live, work and pray, in accordance with the precepts of our faith and known”encouraged the conservative politician.
During his speech, Pence, a man with deep Christian religious beliefs — which can win him votes from evangelical voters — made numerous references to the Bible, prayer and religion.
“I’m Christian, Conservative, and Republican, in that order”it was defined.
By the way, in yet another attempt to distance himself from Trump, Pence spoke out on the abortion issue, mentioning that when the former president first ran for the White House in 2016, he pledged to govern as a conservative, but that he eventually had the “most pro-life government in U.S. history”.
Pence emphasized that he is someone who will always defend “the sanctity of life” against candidates like Trump, who in his view see this issue as “an inconvenience”.
Already in line with the other Republican candidates, Pence criticized Joe Biden’s management, pointing out that the country is “unrecognizable” after its last two years of Democratic administration.
The former vice president painted a gloomy picture of the country, with “crisis everywhere”, and blamed the problems of the border, inflation and rising crime on the Democratic executive.
Therefore, he justified his candidacy with the desire to return the country to the prosperity of the past.
Pence was the last Republican to officially launch his campaign, after 11 other candidates have done so, including Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as favorites.
Other conservative candidates for president include North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum; former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley; former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson; former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie; and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.
Entrepreneurs Vivek Ramaswamy, Ryan Binkley and Perry Johnson also presented their candidacy, as did radio presenter Larry Elder.
Source: DN
