Pence says he will not endorse former boss Trump in 2024 U.S. election

[March 16, 2024]   By Tim Reid
 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mike Pence, who served as Donald Trump's vice president for four years, said on Friday he will not endorse his former boss ahead of November's U.S. presidential election. 

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. October 28, 2023. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/FILE PHOTO

Pence, who ended his own 2024 presidential campaign amid dismal opinion poll numbers, told Fox News: "It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year."

Trump this week won enough delegates to mathematically clinch the Republican nomination and will face a general election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden on Nov. 5.

Pence served Trump loyally but publicly broke with the former Republican president over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.

On that day, Pence, who as vice president held the ceremonial role of president of the U.S. Senate, was overseeing the certification of Biden's 2020 election win over Trump.

He refused Trump's instructions to delay or halt the certification, drawing an angry rebuke from Trump during the riot. Some rioters shouted, "Hang Mike Pence."

Pence said during his presidential campaign that his life was put in danger that day, and he urged Republican primary voters not to choose Trump as their White House candidate this year. Pence ended his bid for the Republican nomination in October before any primary votes were cast.

(Reporting by Tim Reid in Washington; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Nia Williams)

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