Mike Pence, the former U.S. Vice President from the Trump administration, has drawn media attention by stating that JD Vance's analysis of the reasons behind the midterm election losses is "wrong." Analysts suggest that Pence is "open to running for the next presidential election" (Fox News Digital).
On November 15, Pence appeared on NBC, where he praised Vance as a "good person" but disagreed with his views on the relationship between the Iran war and the midterm election losses. Pence stated, "We did not lose the midterms because of the war in Iran." He added, "We executed a magnificent operation last year and conducted airstrikes in Iran effectively, but I believe that stopping the operation for inexplicable reasons after five weeks contributed to the midterm losses." Pence quoted, "It is not about making peace with the enemy, but rather making peace with a defeated enemy."
This contrasts with Vance's earlier comments, where he suggested that anger among supporters due to the Iran war and rising prices led to a shift in public sentiment after the midterm elections.
Additionally, in an interview with Fox News Digital released on November 13, Pence mentioned, "I have heard from many people across the country about the possibility of running for president," expressing that he is "very humbled" by the interest. While he did not disclose specific plans for the 2028 presidential election, he emphasized, "The most important thing is for the Republican Party to win in 2028," urging a focus on what the party supports rather than who it supports.
However, the media noted that Pence had previously stated in September at an Economic Club event in Washington, D.C., that he had no plans to run for elected office in the 2028 election. Yet, his recent interview suggested he might be open to a presidential bid.
In the interview, Pence also outlined key values that the Republican Party should champion in the next election, including strong national defense, limited government functions, fiscal responsibility, and the right to life. He stressed, "If we do not return to these values, it will not matter who runs as the Republican candidate in 2028."
In response, White House Communications Director Davis Engel remarked, "Mike Pence's lack of courage has caused great harm to our great nation," adding that if Republicans had paid attention to his words, he would not have needed to withdraw months before the Iowa caucus during the last election.
Pence, born in 1959 and currently 67 years old, practiced law after graduating from Indiana University School of Law. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives at the age of 41 in 2000 and served six terms. Pence was named the running mate of then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in July 2016 and served as the 48th Vice President of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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