According to Pence, Trump mishandled his response to a neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville in August 2017, a costly mistake that Pence says could have been avoided if Pence had called Trump before a fateful interview press in which Trump failed to condemn “the racists and anti-Semites in Charlottesville by name.” Also, in Pence’s judgment, “there was no reason for Trump not to invoke Russia’s misconduct” early in his tenure, while he is beset by investigations into Russian election meddling on Trump’s behalf and ties between Trump and Moscow. “Acknowledging Russian meddling,” Pence writes, “would not come cheap[ed] our victory’ over Hillary Clinton in 2016. Pence doesn’t stop there. Among other judgments likely to anger his former boss, he says Trump’s alleged “perfect call” to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky in 2019, the subject of Trump’s first impeachment since banning military aid in search of political dirt, was in “less than perfect” reality. ” – if not, at Pence’s discretion, subject to impeachment. Pence also says that in January 2021 he urged Trump to give a farewell address to the nation and encourage unity after the deadly attack on Capitol Hill that he says was instigated by Trump, the subject of Trump’s second impeachment. Trump remains unrepentant. Pence, the noted devout, writes that he has prayed for Trump throughout his presidency and after urging a farewell address as given by “every president since George Washington … urged him once again to take time to pray.” . Perhaps unsurprisingly, thrice-married, genital-grabbing, greed-loving Trump doesn’t seem to have taken the advice to pray or be prayed for. A few days after the farewell speech conversation, Pence writes, he “reminded” Trump “that I was praying for him.” “Don’t bother,” Trump said. Trump’s reluctance to be told what to do, to be told he’s wrong or to credit advisers with anything means Pence’s book would risk drawing attacks as Trump prepares to announce his next presidential campaign, even if the Pence was not a likely opponent. Pence’s memoir, So Help Me God, will be published in the US on Tuesday. It was noted in the US media, including a column published by the Wall Street Journal, which presented the former vice president’s version of events before, on and after January 6, when supporters incited by Trump attacked Congress in a attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory. Pence did not do as Trump asked and threw out electoral college results from key states while performing his ceremonial role in Congress. The Jan. 6 House committee portrayed Pence as something of a hero, but his reward that day was an angry mob, members of which called for him to be hanged as a gallows was erected outside. In excerpts of an interview set to air Monday, Pence told ABC News: “The words of the president [on 6 January 2021] he was reckless and his actions were reckless. The president’s words that day at the rally put me and my family and everyone in the Capitol building at risk.” Capitol riot Jan. 6: third day of hearing focused on Mike Pence – watch live Until last week, Pence’s book seemed likely to read as something of a balancing act, between loyalty to the president he was, in his own words, “always climbing” — and to the president’s supporters — and the service of ambition that led to his visit. Pence declares early voting and appeals to conservative groups. Pence writes that after Biden’s victory, he advised Trump to pursue a path to the 2024 nomination, treating his defeat as “a loss — just a break.” “Thirteen days after the 2020 election,” Pence writes, “I had lunch with President Trump. I told him that if his legal challenges didn’t fall through, he could just accept the results, move on, and begin a political comeback, winning Senate runoffs in Georgia, the 2021 gubernatorial election in Virginia, and the House and Senate in 2022 Then he could run for president in 2024 and win. He seemed unmoved, even tired: “I don’t know, 2024 is so far away.” Republicans lost Senate runoffs in Georgia, won the Virginia governor’s race largely by distancing their candidate from Trump, and then missed their midterm goal. Last Tuesday, an expected “red wave” failed to appear. Instead, Democrats are celebrating while Republicans contemplate a narrow and unruly majority in the US House, the far-right on the rise and at least two more years in the Senate minority thanks to Democratic wins in Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania, the only seat flipped. . so far. A Republican backlash against Trump quickly formed, particularly because of his supporters for election-denying candidates who lost Senate races and contests for governor and other state positions. ‘Florida is where the awakening goes to die’: Republican Ron DeSandis re-elected governor – video To make matters worse for Trump, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis enjoyed a landslide re-election, a rare bright spot for the GOP, and has surged to the top of the 2024 nomination field polls. Regardless, Trump aides have indicated he will go ahead and announce his 2024 campaign — his third consecutive campaign — at the Mar-a-Lago resort in DeSantis’ home state on Tuesday. Trump has repeatedly attacked DeSantis. But as far as the governor is concerned, at least, Pence is keeping his own powder dry. In his book, the former vice president and head of Trump’s coronavirus task force mentions his potential primary opponent only once, praising him for his handling of the pandemic. Pence insists the Trump administration passed the Covid test with flying colors, even praising government scientists, including Anthony Fauci — “a great source of comfort to millions of Americans” — who are now potential targets for investigation by House Republicans. Under DeSantis, more than 82,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Florida, the third highest state total. The national death toll is close to 1.1 million.
