Donald Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence, wants to be the next president of the United States.
Former United States Vice President Mike Pence has taken a significant step towards running for the presidency by submitting the necessary documents to the Federal Election Commission.
Pence’s formal filing solidifies his intention to seek the nation’s highest office. While he is anticipated to publicly announce his bid on Wednesday, June 07, 2023, his decision to challenge his former boss, Donald Trump, for the Republican Party’s nomination has already been revealed.
Background
Pence, who is 63 years old and a member of the Republican party, served as Vice President under Trump from 2017 until his departure from the White House following the 2020 presidential election defeat. Although the two had a close working relationship during their tenure, tensions escalated following the events surrounding the 2020 election.
On January 6, 2021, as Pence presided over the confirmation of Joe Biden’s victory, a group of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, causing chaos and violence. Reports emerged suggesting that Trump had incited his supporters to make threats against Pence.
Pence subsequently characterised Trump’s comments and behavior as dangerous. However, despite these disagreements, Pence opposed the idea of impeaching Trump for his involvement in the Capitol attack, deeming it too divisive.
Furthermore, Pence stood by Trump in defending against allegations of paying hush money to a porn star. These incidents strained the relationship between the former Vice President and his ex-boss.
It is worth noting that the United States’ next presidential election is scheduled for November 2024, and Pence’s bid to become the Republican nominee sets the stage for a potentially contentious race within the party.
