End of Accompanying the 45th Administration... As a 2024 Presidential Election Contender
[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, once allies in the White House, have turned into rivals ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Pence, who had strongly condemned the Capitol riot and chosen to distance himself from Trump, appears to be drawing a clear line by cooperating with the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation targeting Trump.
The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly considering summoning Pence as a witness in the investigation of former President Trump, and Pence is positively reviewing the request to testify, according to The New York Times on the 23rd (local time).
The Department of Justice appointed Special Counsel Jack Smith to investigate allegations that Trump incited his supporters to attack the federal Congress on January 6 last year while claiming election fraud in the 2020 election, as well as suspicions that he privately took 3,000 presidential records and classified documents.
The DOJ investigation team reportedly contacted Pence’s side several days before the announcement of the special counsel appointment, The NYT reported. The NYT described that if Pence cooperates, it would be the most notable twist in the investigation, which Trump has been calling a "political witch hunt."
Earlier, the House Select Committee on the January 6 attack had also requested Pence to testify, but he did not comply. The NYT noted that unlike the House committee’s investigation, the DOJ’s probe is a criminal case, which is why Pence appears more open to testifying.
Former President Trump and former Vice President Pence are considered intra-party rivals expected to compete in the 2024 presidential primary. Although Pence has never officially declared his candidacy, some Republican lawmakers have encouraged him to run.
In an interview with ABC News on the 15th, Pence hinted at a possible official announcement, saying he is "considering it with a prayerful heart." When asked if he could beat Trump, he replied, "Regardless of whether I run or not, I believe America will make a better choice than Trump."
When the 45th Trump administration took office in January 2017, Pence became Vice President and President of the Senate, wielding considerable power among U.S. vice presidents based on Trump’s unique trust. As a close advisor, Pence turned against Trump’s camp following Trump’s election fraud claims and the Capitol riot.
In the recent midterm elections held on the 8th, Republican candidates running on a pro-Trump platform suffered consecutive defeats, leading major U.S. media outlets to analyze that the anti-Trump camp, including Pence, is gaining the upper hand in the party’s internal competition.
Nikki Haley, appointed as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, is also growing her influence within the party and is classified as a potential candidate for the next presidential election. Haley was criticized for acting as "Trump’s voice" during the Trump administration, representing him on issues such as North Korean missile provocations and the Jerusalem resolution.
Although she initially appeared to turn into an anti-Trump figure by issuing critical messages about the Capitol riot after Trump’s departure, she showed an ambiguous stance by announcing earlier this month that she would support him as a presidential candidate. The Washington Post (WP) recently ranked her 8th among 10 Republican presidential candidates.
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