In a significant move, former Vice President Mike Pence launched his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday, taking a strong stand against his former running mate, ex-President Donald Trump.

Pence accused Trump of abandoning conservative principles and neglecting his duty on January 6, 2021, the Associated Press has reported.

Recalling the tumultuous events of that fateful day when Trump’s supporters breached the U.S. Capitol while the president falsely claimed that Pence could overturn the election results, Pence asserted that Trump “demanded I choose between him and our Constitution. Now, voters will face the same choice.”

Pence’s decision to challenge the president he served under makes him the first vice president in modern history to take such a step.

While his speech, delivered at a community college near Des Moines, primarily focused on criticizing Democratic President Joe Biden and his vision for the country, Pence also directly addressed the events of January 6.

He stated that Trump had disqualified himself by falsely asserting that Pence possessed the authority to keep him in office.

Written by staff