In a candid interview with David Muir on ABC’s World News Tonight, former Vice President Mike Pence shared the intense emotions he experienced during his initial conversation with then-President Donald Trump after the tumultuous events of January 6.
The interview, conducted on Saturday, December 2, 2023, shed light on Pence’s state of mind in the aftermath of the Capitol breach, a perilous incident that had placed Pence and his family in grave danger.
Pence, who faced the ominous threat of harm as rioters chanted “Hang Mike Pence,” held nothing back as he recounted the palpable tension between him and Trump during their first post-riot meeting at the White House.
Expressing the depth of his emotions, Pence stated unequivocally, “I was angry.”
The revelation followed a chaotic period during which Pence, amidst the crisis, did not receive an immediate call from Trump. It was only five days later that the two leaders finally met.
Detailing the initial exchange, Pence emphasized Trump’s immediate concern for the safety of Pence’s wife, Karen Pence, and daughter, Charlotte.
“He said that he had just learned that they were at the Capitol that day. I told him they were fine,” Pence recalled. “And then he asked, ‘Were you scared?’ I said, ‘No, I was angry.'”
Pence went on to express his frustration and anger at witnessing the Capitol being ransacked by individuals who had earlier attended a rally in support of Trump.
Despite their differences, Pence acknowledged sensing genuine remorse from the former president. Sources close to Pence, as reported by People, indicated that although Trump did not formally apologize, Pence perceived a genuine sadness in him.
“I think he simply said, with his voice much more faint than it had ever been, he said, ‘What if we hadn’t had the rally?’ He said, ‘It’s so– it’s so bad to end like this,'” revealed Pence.
Elaborating on his emotional response to Trump’s words, Pence stated during the interview, “It angered me, but I turned to my daughter who was standing nearby and said, ‘It doesn’t take courage to break the law, it takes courage to uphold the law.’ I mean, the president’s words were reckless.”
Pence did not shy away from criticizing Trump, emphasizing that it was evident the former president had chosen to be part of the problem rather than a solution.
As Pence candidly discussed his anger and Trump’s moments of remorse, the interview provided a nuanced perspective on the aftermath of a historic day that continues to reverberate in American political discourse.
