Former President Donald Trump said Mike Pence owes him for being elected vice president and should endorse his bid for president after his former No. 2 dropped out of the running on Saturday.
Trump complained during his remarks in Las Vegas, Nevada that he is disappointed with the lack of loyalty in politics.
Pence made a shock announcement earlier on Saturday at the Republican Jewish Coalition Summit, where he said he was withdrawing from the 2024 Republican nominating contest.
Trump spoke at the same event — and later in the day held a rally for a caucus event along the Vegas Strip from the Venetian Conference Center in Stoney’s Rockin’ Country.
In his second speech of the day, Trump said the former vice president must now show his support for his third presidential candidate, despite their bitter feud in the final days of 2020.
Donald Trump says former Vice President Mike Pence should support him now that he has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race
Pence served as Trump’s vice president during his only term in office. Now Trump says his ex-No. 2 should endorse his bid, despite their bitter feud in the final days of the government
“You know, people are leaving now and they’re all supporting me,” Trump said. “I don’t know about Mike Pence.”
“He should support me, you know why? Because I had a very successful presidency and he was the vice president,” the former president added. ‘He would have to force me. I chose him and made him vice president. But people in politics can be very disloyal. I’ve never seen anything like it before.’
Regarding some others who dropped out of the race, such as conservative radio host Larry Elder, Trump said, “Everyone who’s leaving seems to be supporting me.”
Pence said Saturday he is withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race after it became increasingly clear he could not win the Republican nomination.
“You know, we always knew this was going to be an uphill battle. But I don’t regret it,” Pence assured.
He added, “The only thing that would have been harder than falling short would have been if we never tried at all.”
Trump said there are people who “have what it takes” to be president, and said he would “someday” share those he thinks are up to the job — but did not say Pence was one of them.
Former Vice President Mike Pence made a shocking announcement earlier on Saturday at the Republican Jewish Coalition Summit that he is ending his bid for president in 2024.
Pence explained that he originally launched his campaign in June because the US is “in a lot of trouble.”
However, he said now is not his time to step in and help.
“The Bible tells us that for every purpose under heaven there is a time,” Pence said in closing his speech at the Venetian Conference Center on the Vegas Strip.
“As I have traveled around the country over the past six months, I came here to say, it has become clear to me that this is not my time,” the former vice president said, drawing an awed response from the crowd.
He announced, “So after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president as of today.”
During his remarks about stepping aside, Pence received several lengthy standing ovations from the thousands of Jewish Republicans who gathered Saturday to hear the 2024 Republican candidates speak in Las Vegas.
“Thanks, Mike,” one participant was heard shouting.
Pence invited his wife and former Second Lady Karen Pence (left) to the stage on Saturday as he thanked his campaign team and family for their support during the presidential bid
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley was two speakers alongside Pence at the RJC Summit on Saturday — and she had some kind words for her now-former competitor.
“A special point for Vice President Mike Pence: He has been a good man of faith, he has been a good man of service. He fought for America and he fought for Israel, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude,” the 2024 hopeful said at the top of her remarks.
Pence was moved as he spoke to a crowd and expressed love while announcing he would be stepping aside.
“To the American people I say, this is not my time, but it is still your time,” he said. “I urge you to hold on to what matters most: faith, family, and the Constitution of the United States of America.”
“I want to thank all of you for the opportunity to serve as your vice president. It was the greatest honor of my life.’