Washington (AP) – His group spent nearly a million dollars on advertisements to oppose Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump Choose to direct the country’s health agencies. He delivered speeches urging the president to Stay with longtime foreign allies And put pressure on the members of the Congress while the aids write letters and columns of opinion.
This weekend, He published an article he wrote more than a decade ago on the limits of presidential power after Trump said That, “the one who saves his country does not violate any law.”
Mike Pence has become one of the last Republicans of Washington, willing to publicly criticize the new administration.
It is a particularly discordant role for the former vice-president, whose refusal to break with Trump defined his time together to his functions until the two have a fall on Trump’s refusal to accept the results elections of 2020 and His efforts to stay in power.
Pence and those who work with him in the progress of American freedom, his political defense group, the stress that they are not trying to face the “Never Trump” coat. They intend to rent the administration when they agree with this, while lifting concerns when they do not, pleading for long -standing conservative principles which have fallen into disgrace as the Trump’s “Make America Great Again” populism brand.
“We call bullets and strikes here,” Pennce told the Associated Press.
Pence opposed Kennedy – who has since been confirmed as secretary to health and social services – due to the previous comments of Kennedy expressing support for abortion rights. His group is now pressure Lori Chavez-DeremerTrump’s choice for the work secretary, accusing him of being pro-UnionAnd plans to spend the coming months to push to increase Stop slapming the prices on the allies.
The AP recently sat with Pence to discuss his efforts and his relationship with Trump – including a handful of the funeral of President Jimmy Carter and the lack of reaction of his wife while the 45th and 47th Presidents sat down.
Here is a transcription of this conversation, which has been slightly modified for space and clarity:
Q: What do you see as your role and the role of AAF in the next four years?
Pence: “To be an anchor of the wind … I came across this line, I think in a book by Herman Melville a long time ago.”
“The wind blows in the sense of more government. And I think it is a role of the conservatives to anchor the party so that when the wind blows, you put anchor in the wind to stay in the ground and hope to do a small part to hold, you know, hold the ship ‘State on the principles which really struck my career in this movement. »»
“A strong defense, to the American management of the free world, a limited government, a budgetary responsibility, a growth, the right to life, traditional values - these are the values that attracted me to the republican party. And I always think these are the timeless ideals of Lincoln’s party. And so I want to do my part, even as an elected official, to use everything that remains of my intimate chair to be a champion for these principles. »»
Q: How do you choose your battles?
Pence: “Well, for me, they are always the principles first. It is not personal. I went to the inauguration last month and I was very moved in the outpouring of kind words and expressions of appreciation of former colleagues, including many members of the new administration that I met in The corridors. And I saw the Secretary of State (Marco) Rubio. I gave him a hug, I told him how proud of him I was. We congratulated him from here when he was selected. I had to see or interact with about half of the incoming cabinet. »»
“We went to Carter’s funeral. And the president and I had a very cordial exchange. You know, he descended the row in front of us to the national cathedral and he said: “Hi, Mike”. And I got up, held my hand, and I said: “Congratulations, Mr. President”. And I could see his face softened. And he said, “Thank you.” And Melania contacted and I said: “Congratulations, Melania”. And it was, you know, the people who know me know that it is not personal. I have long forgiven the president the differences we had at the end of our administration. We still have these differences because the president is still of the opinion that, to my knowledge, that I had an authority that I did not have under the constitution or the laws of the country. But from my heart, I often prayed for the president. »»
“And so, to answer your question, I think that the way we want to approach this is with integrity into the principle. And I am very encouraged. I think that the Trump administration is off to a good start … I am very happy that the president has canceled Biden’s border policies and putting in place the policies we had negotiated and established that assured the border. But you know, with regard to the appointment of RFK … for me, it would start and end up the right to life … I saw the appointment of a supporter of the rights to abortion to be secretary HHS as a dramatic departure of 50 years of strong pro-life leadership at HHS under republican administrations. So we thought it was important to express themselves. And we had a lot of silent encouragement on this subject.
Q: silent encouragement?
“Well, we have received a lot of silent encouragement from people who, for any reason, did not feel obliged to join us in this refrain. But I thought it was an important point for us to assert. And, you know, we will continue to be champion. »»
Q: Why are the Republicans so reluctant to express themselves publicly?
Pence: “I never speculate on the patterns. You know, I’m not new in town. I have already waged lonely battles.
“But you know, you must be ready to go out and direct. And I hope that even following this fight that, you know, the Senate worked for its will, the president will get his choice at HHS. I hope that when the next issue of life appears, people have been encouraged, embraced that they are not alone. »»
Q: Is there a party support to come back in the direction you would like to see against the populist, Maga Wing of the party who is ascending?
Pence: “Well, now you hit him. Now you’re there. I do not think – look, I think that some of the eminent voices of the party have adopted a more populist thought. I do not believe that the overwhelming majority of people who vote the republican think differently of what they thought during our administration when we have reached a conservative agenda or in preceding years or since then. »»
“Let me give you an anecdote.” I am therefore at a meeting of the town hall when I present myself to the presidency. And at the end of the town hall meeting – it was very busy, it was in Iowa – a farmer approached me and he said: “It was a big meeting of the town hall. I agree with everything you say. You know, and I argued for – it was literally following the attack on October 7. And I pleaded for a strong American support in Israel, a solid American leadership in the world, continuous support for Ukraine in their fight and its limited government and to cause reforms to put our tax house in order and the right to life.
And this farmer said to me, he said, “I agree with absolutely everything you said.” So I said, “Well, can I count on your vote?” And he said, “No, I have to be for Trump this time.” And he said, “I will see you in four years. You will be a big president one day. I said, “Could you tell me, you know, why?” And he said words that I had never forgotten, which was in force: he deplored the missed file of Biden. And I saw that he was attracted by the need for a revenge match. And then he said: “In addition, if they can do this to a former president, they can do that to me.” And the “law” was higher.
“So I have not seen a republican party in this last election that kissed the great government or a vision of retreating American commitments on the world scene or marginalizing the right to life. I haven’t seen it travel throughout the country and I still can’t see it. I think there were other factors that gave the former president an advantage decided in the elections. He had won it. He had won it. And then he won it in the fall. But I don’t think the party has changed. “”
Q: You mentioned the Carter funeral earlier. Tell me about your woman’s reaction to the Trums that day.
(During the funeral, the former second lady Karen Pence refused to recognize the elected officials of the time or to shake hands with Melania Trump – images that ended up becoming viral online.)
Pence: “My wife loves her husband. And I like my wife and I have a lot of respect for her. And so – but I was really moved on the number of people through the country that thanked us for this day.
“But again, you know, I want to emphasize, we are the eyes forward here. You know, I had always thought that the president was going to appear on the position he took on January 6. If you read the end of my book, which I would be flattered if you did, will read that we separated in very friendly terms, very good terms. But in the spring, when he returned to rhetoric on how I could have done something that neither the constitution nor the law would allow any vice-president to do, so I just decided that it was important to separate us. But Hope is eternal. And we want to be a constructive force for the conservative agenda. I think it’s good for the administration. It’s good for Congress. Most importantly, it’s good for America. »»
