'Surprised': Internet weighs in as Mike Pence declares he won't endorse Donald Trump for 2024 election

WASHINGTON, DC: Mike Pence announced on Friday, March 15, that he will not be endorsing Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election.

Pence, the former Vice President who served under the former President, revealed the news during an interview with Fox News.

Why did Mike Pence decline to endorse Donald Trump for the upcoming US election?

In his conversation with the host Martha MacCallum, Pence said, "It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year."

While he expressed pride in the accomplishments of the former president's administration during their first term, Pence said there were "profound differences" between him and Trump.

Explaining the three reasons behind his decision to not endorse Trump, he listed Trump's failure to address the national debt, his deviation from pro-life stances, and his opposition to a Congressional bill banning TikTok.

"In each of these cases, Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on," said Pence.

The certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election on January 6 was also cited as his most notable disagreement with Trump. 

"Given these deep differences. I cannot in good conscience publicly endorse President Trump," said Pence.

Mike Pence says he will not vote for Joe Biden

Despite offering to endorse Trump, Pence affirmed his commitment to the Republican Party as he said he would travel the country and promote the "mainstream conservative agenda." 

"What I'm going to spend the rest of the year is talking about what we should be for," said the former vice president who ran his own failed presidential campaign in 2024.

"The broad mainstream conservative agenda that has defined our party and always made America strong and prosperous and free," he added.

Pence refused to disclose his preferred candidate for the 2024 election but made it clear that he would not vote for President Joe Biden. 

"I would never vote for Joe Biden but how I vote when that curtain closes, that will be for me," he said. 

Noting that he has no plans to run as a third-party candidate, Pence said, "I'm a Republican, Martha." 

Internet surprised by Mike Pence's decision to not endorse Donald Trump

Following Pence's announcement that he declined to endorse Trump, netizens expressed their surprise at the former vice president's decision.

"Actually, I'm kind of surprised," a user wrote on X (formerly Twitter) and another user wrote, "'It should come as no surprise' actually means everyone will be surprised."

"Bet he still votes for him though," one user opined while another tweeted, "Michael, come on. we need to talk about what the word 'surprise' means."

"I guess Mike Pence decided he did not want to 'hang around' to see what a second Trump term would be like," a user wrote.

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