Former Vice President Mike Pence talked about the future of America in a recent speech and teased a potential 2024 presidential bid that would rival former President Donald Trump who has repeatedly hinted at the same.
The two officials made addresses from two hotel ballrooms less than a mile apart in Washington and put on clear display one of the most uncomfortable splits within the Republican Party. The competing speeches that were made on the same day would have been inconceivable for a former president and his own vice president not long ago.
Pence vs. Trump
The incident also illustrated many Republicans' frustrations and reservations about a potential 2024 Trump presidential campaign. A recent poll suggested that it could cause a large number of GOP voters to defect from the party in a general election.
Trump, in his 90-minute speech, repeatedly veered off script to complain about "hoax" investigations, boast about surviving two impeachments and lied about his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. On the other hand, Pence urged the GOP to look ahead and unite for the next political battles, as per the New York Times.
Pence noted that some people may choose to focus on the past, but elections are about the future of a nation. But Trump, on the other hand, scowled and leaned on menacing imagery of an America that is besieged by violent crime and in desperate need of a rescue that only he could provide for the people.
The two separate speeches also underscored the wide gap in enthusiasm among Republicans between Trump and any other potential primary rival in the 2024 elections. Pence drew tepid applause during his 30-minute address that was attended by roughly 250 people at an event that was hosted by the Young America's Foundation.
According to CNN, he said that he came with the intention of speaking about a broad range of topics but noted that the weather had different plans for him the day before. He then took the opportunity to speak about an agenda for the future.
The Future of America
Pence said that conservatives "must focus on the future to win back America" and laid out what he called a "freedom agenda" of conservative policy goals including everything from the economy to immigration to cultural fights over education.
The former vice president said that he believes the freedom agenda provides a clear roadmap for conservative leaders like all of the attendees to connect deeply with the American people on their top priorities.
His aspirations put him in direct conflict with the former president, who is also considering a 2024 presidential run. The two officials split since the events of the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot when Trump put public and private pressure on Pence to delay the counting of electoral votes that favored Biden.
The situation comes as on July 23 after Trump took the stage at Turning Point USA's annual Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida. During the event, he proceeded to mock the Jan. 6 House Select Committee and called Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney "unhinged," the National Review reported.
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