He presented his new boss’s outsider status as an asset, saying the real estate tycoon understands the frustrations and the hopes of the American people like no leader since Ronald Reagan.
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Pence was definitely not Trump’s first choice when it came to speech topics on Saturday.
Mr Trump insisted Mr Pence was his first choice despite lingering media reports that he had considered changing his mind up to the last minute. “He’s really got the skills of a highly talented executive”, he said. Mike Pence of IN made their public debut as running mates Saturday morning, hoping to inspire a wave of party unity heading into the Republican National Convention IN Cleveland.
As for his immediate plans on Saturday night, Pence told NBC News: “We’re going to go pick up a pizza, and go home, and watch a movie”.
His return caps a tumultuous few days that began when Pence accepted Trump’s offer on Wednesday, covertly boarded a private plane Thursday for NY, only to have Trump say during a TV interview later that night that he had not made a “final, final” decision.
“On the essay that I wrote a long time ago”, Pence responded, “I said campaigns ought to be about something more important than just one candidate’s election”. I think what Pence is is he’s a permission pick. “In that order”, Pence said.
Indeed, Trump’s own actions – saying he’d not made a final decision even after Pence was summoned to NY, then delaying the announcement – left the distinct impression of doubt. “It’s very simple. And everybody here knows what those consequences are, but I won’t say that because I’m much more interested now in Mike”. More than 80 people were killed, more than 200 injured.
A call from Trump Thursday afternoon prompted Pence to get on a plane to NY for an announcement the next day.
“On Friday, however, the magnitude of the dilemma became apparent”.
Trump spent weeks weighing vice presidential contenders, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and only zeroed in on Pence in recent days. He predicted that Pence would have won re-election as governor, were he not running for vice president.
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There was little hoopla – and no questions, though Trump on Thursday had billed the event as a news conference. Trump called Pence his “partner” and “a man of honor”, and Pence called Trump a “builder”, a “fighter”, and a “patriotic American”. However, he spend a (brief) moment sending his thoughts and support to the people of France following the devastating attack in Nice on Thursday, July 14. It put Middle East allies on edge over his commitment to the region’s security, and even some of his advisers have said it was a mistake to stand down. He reiterated that he would get tough with radical Islamic terrorism. Before it started, supporters listened to the Rolling Stones song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, a tune in regular rotation at Trump events. However, French officials have not indicated thus far that the suspect was shouting as he carried out the attack.
