In Lakewood speech, Pence warns of “populists,” says he congratulated Trump

Former Vice President Mike Pence warned in opposition to “populists” in the hunt for sway over conservative politics throughout a Friday speech at Colorado Christian College, and he known as for a protection of “conventional” conservative values on overseas coverage, abortion and marriage.

Pence’s speech at CCU, a small conservative faculty in Lakewood, got here 10 days after his former operating mate, Republican Donald Trump, was once reelected to the White Area. Pence, who mentioned closing 12 months that Trump will have to “by no means be president of the USA” as a result of his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, mentioned Friday he congratulated his “previous good friend” closing week at the win. He known as Trump’s win — coupled with Republican victories within the U.S. Area and Senate — a “time of significant alternative.”

“However I should inform you, it’s additionally a time of shock for the ones people that consider in that conventional conservative time table,” he mentioned, and he argued that the “new majorities and new management” should “hew to our roots” of the ones values. That incorporates, he mentioned, a dedication that marriage is between one guy and one girl, in addition to opposition to abortion and a dedication to restricted executive, free-market economics and an outward-facing solution to overseas coverage.

The ones ideals will have to be defended, he mentioned, in opposition to a “emerging populist heart” that threatens to undermine “conventional conservatism with an time table fueled in some ways through private criticism.”  He didn’t identify anyone or coverage.

Pence drew applause when he mentioned the USA will have to proceed supporting its “maximum liked best friend, Israel,” whilst additionally proceeding to toughen Ukraine in its conflict in opposition to Russia. He mentioned Israel should “seek out and wreck Hamas” within the wake of the fear workforce’s assault on Oct. 7, 2023. Then, he mentioned, the West can display its “compassion and generosity” through serving to to rebuild the Gaza Strip, which has been decimated through the Israeli army amid a marketing campaign {that a} United Countries particular committee not too long ago mentioned was once in line with genocide.

Pence, a former Republican congressman and governor of Indiana, served as Trump’s vice chairman throughout the president-elect’s first stint within the White Area. The 2 males’s dating collapsed amid Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was once fraudulent and that Pence had the authority to throw the election to Trump — a perimeter concept that Pence denied.

On Jan. 6, 2021, Pence got here “dangerously shut” to rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol, in a while after Trump instructed a crowd that he was hoping Pence would toughen his illegitimate makes an attempt to stay within the White Area. Pence mentioned Friday that he wasn’t afraid throughout the insurrection.

“I used to be indignant,” he mentioned. “I discovered myself considering, ‘Now not this, now not right here, now not in The united states.’ ”

Pence mentioned he’d introduced his spouse and daughter with him Jan. 6 to the Capitol, the place he was once to preside over the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory, and that his spouse stayed with him into the early morning of Jan. 7.

“When the day advanced, I should inform you, it become extra animated between us,” Pence mentioned of his dating with Trump. “However I did my responsibility.”