Former US Vice President Pence has now officially introduced himself as a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. Right at the start of his election campaign, he attacked his former boss Trump.
Mike Pence chose his birthday to officially announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president: “Today I announce, before God and my family, that I am running for President of the United States.”
Former Vice President Pence is now running in the Republican primaries against his former boss Donald Trump, among others, both fighting for their party’s presidential candidacy. This is unusual, but now a reality in the US.
Pence: Deciding between the Constitution and Trump
“If I’m president, the American families will have a champion in the White House,” Pence told supporters in Iowa. Unlike in his application video, in which the conservative and deeply religious Pence does not mention Trump, he attacked him in his application speech in Iowa.
On the day the Capitol was stormed on January 6, 2021, Trump asked him to choose between Trump and the Constitution. He chose the Constitution and always will, Pence said. No one who puts themselves above the US Constitution should be allowed to become President of the US. And no one who asks that of others.
Pence: Biden responsible for crises
The country needs new leadership, Pence said. The incumbent, Democratic US President Joe Biden, who is running again, is responsible for the country’s crises – such as high inflation or the crisis at the border. Pence is the ninth candidate to announce his candidacy with the Republicans.
Chris Christie, Trump’s former adviser and former governor of New Jersey, officially applied just this week. He also attacked Trump sharply – like Pence. It might have been entertaining eight years ago, Christie explained, but now it’s the last attempt by a bitter, angry man man to get power back – for himself.
The more candidates, the better for Trump
With Christie and Pence, former Trump confidants, who openly criticize their former boss, are positioning themselves. And they’re just two in a growing field of Republican candidates.
The most prominent, alongside Trump, are Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. Whoever wins in the end will be decided in internal party primaries. Political observers in the US agree: the more candidates there are, the better for Trump.