Pence says NO to Trump endorsement, Kemp and McConnell say yes

Former Vice President Mike Pence announced on Friday that he will not endorse Donald Trump for the 2024 elections, just days after Trump secured the Republican Party’s nomination. This decision comes despite Pence serving under Trump during his presidency.

Pence’s stance against endorsing Trump stems from the events of January 6, 2021, when the U.S. Capitol was attacked by a mob of pro-Trump supporters, with Pence himself being targeted. In strong terms, Pence criticized Trump, stating that his agenda diverges from conservative principles.

In an interview with a news outlet, Pence stated, “Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years, and that is why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign.”

Meanwhile, Trump has managed to secure endorsements from other prominent Republican figures, despite having publicly criticized and attacked them in the past. Among these figures is GA Governor Brian Kemp. Kemp declined to support Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election and has often pushed back against Trump’s claims of election fraud. In response to Kemp’s refusal to support his election overturn efforts, Trump actively sought to end Kemp’s political career. He recruited former Senator David Perdue to challenge Kemp in the 2022 primary and has referred to Kemp as “a turncoat, a coward, and a complete and total disaster.” Trump also once suggested that Kemp’s Democratic opponent for governor in 2022, Stacey Abrams, “might be better” than Kemp himself.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has also endorsed Trump, although he criticized Trump for the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, which McConnell termed as a “disgraceful dereliction of duty” on Trump’s part. McConnell has not been immune to Trump’s attacks. He has targeted McConnell in various ways, including making racist comments about McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao. Additionally, Trump suggested that McConnell has a “DEATH WISH” and has described him as a “dour, sullen and unsmiling political hack.” Trump has also criticized McConnell’s demeanor, referring to him as freezing during a news conference.