Mike Pence ‘will run’ for president in 2024 but has no chance of winning against ‘emboldened’ Trump, ex aide says
MIKE Pence will launch a bid for president in 2024 but has no chance of winning the Republican nomination as he’s likely to face an “angry and emboldened” Donald Trump, an ex-White House aide says.
Speculation that Pence is seeking a run for the White House is growing as he’s reportedly trying to raise $18million this year.
Conservative group Advancing American Freedom has already spent around $60,000 in digital ads since launching in April, and Pence has been involved in fundraising for high profile Republicans such as House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy, according to Axios.
The former VP spoke at the memorial service for Indiana's Cpl. Humberto Sanchez – who was killed in last month's ISIS-K terror blast in Afghanistan.
Olivia Troye, who served on the White House Coronavirus Taskforce between February-August 2020, thinks Pence will try to win over both "Trump loyalists" and moderate conservatives.
She claims his ambition to run for president is "apparent" and says the fundraising reports "solidify" his goal.
Troye told The Sun: “It has always been his goal to run for the presidency and that’s why he ended up aligning himself with Trump as much as I know that he likely detests him.”
But, the former aide said she doesn’t think he will win the nomination.
She said: “Pence is not deterred but I don’t think he stands a chance with the nomination when some people called him a traitor."
Troye slammed Pence for "aligning himself" with Trump by calling for "election integrity".
The Sun has approached Advancing American Freedom – where Mr Pence is chair – for comment.
In March, Pence penned an article on the Daily Signal website explaining that he “shares” the alleged concerns of “millions of Americans about the integrity of 2020.
There was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Pence alleged legislation known as "For the People Act” would “increase opportunities for election fraud, trample the First Amendment” and further “erode confidence in elections”.
In the article, he claimed that “troubling voting irregularities” took place in states “that set aside laws enacted by state legislatures in favor of sweeping changes ordered by governors, secretaries of state and courts”.
'PENCE IS NOT DETERRED'
The Republican alleged the legislation had one goal – “to give leftists an unfair constitutional advantage”.
He said: “The American people expect us to ensure that every eligible citizen is able to vote and also make sure that their vote is not stolen or diluted through errors, mistakes of outright fraud.”
But, in June, Pence said he will likely never “see eye to eye” with Trump regarding the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
At a Hillsborough County GOP event, he said: “You know, President Trump and I have spoken many times since we left office, and I don’t know if we’ll ever see eye to eye about that day.”
He branded January 6 “a dark day” in the history of the US Capitol.
Trump was accused of inciting violence after he told his supporters to "fight like hell" on January 6 when Pence was in the Senate certifying Biden's election win.
He appeared to blame Pence for not rejecting the Electoral College votes.
As supporters rampaged the Capitol, Trump tweeted: “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our County and our Constitution.”
Speculation that Trump will seek a run for the White House in 2024 continues to grow as he continues to tease supporters.
But, the former president has stopped short of declaring his candidacy.
'AN EMBOLDENED TRUMP'
Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he believes Trump will run for the presidency.
Troye believes Pence will come up against an “angrier” and “emboldened” Donald Trump if both seek the nomination.
She thinks the ex-president will be “looking for a comeback” should he decide to launch a bid for the White House.
Troye, a self-described “lifelong Republican” who voted for Joe Biden in November, said she’s worried about the “danger” that Trump could pose to American democracy.
She accused some lawmakers within the GOP of “being too scared” to take a stand against the former president.
She said: “The question is and remains to be seen – who will be the one who really truly breaks from the ranks.”
The former aide branded the GOP “the party of Trump” as she admitted she doesn’t know what the Republicans stand for now.
House Republicans ousted Liz Cheney from her leadership role in May after criticizing Trump, while Rep. Anthony Gonzalez said he wouldn’t seek re-election in 2022.
Gonzalez was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after January 6.
'TOXIC' GOP
He slammed the toxicity within the GOP as he called the ex-president a “cancer” on the country.
Hitting back, Trump branded the congressman a “Republican in name only” as he accused him of “poorly representing” Ohio, The Hill reports.
Troye alleged: “They (The GOP) have made it clear that there’s no room for moderate voices. You either fall in line with Trumpism and support it, or they will do everything they can to push you out.”
The Sun has approached the Office of Donald J Trump and the GOP for comment.
With the midterms less than 18 months away, the Republicans aim to take the House and Senate as they try to take advantage of Biden's challenges such as Covid and the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.
But, Troye thinks the legacy of January 6 could haunt the GOP in the upcoming elections.
LEGACY OF JANUARY 6
She said: “I think our country is a lot more moderate than what most people think.
“January 6 was a wake-up call for people who didn’t understand what was happening.”
She added that the possibility of potentially overturning a democratic election is a “cause for concern” and will resonate with voters as they go to the polls in future elections.
Troye claims Americans remain divided – months after Trump has left office.
She said: “We as a country are still very divided. You are seeing it play out today over masks for example.
“Division makes it hard to counter this virus. Instead of being together against this invisible enemy, we’re so busy fighting each other. It makes it very challenging to overcome.”
Troye, who served on the coronavirus task force, said she is left heartbroken as intensive care units are overwhelmed in some areas of the country and cases continue to soar.
She said: “Whether it’s elections, the safety of Americans, or fighting the Covid pandemic, it creates a prime opportunity for foreign adversaries who want nothing more than to see what’s happening in our country.
“The danger lies within and the dangers we face are more domestic.”
Olivia Troye is a former White House Homeland Security advisor and served on the White House Coronavirus Task Force. She resigned from the White House in August 2020 and is the director of The Republican Accountability Project.
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