Donald Trump presented running mate Mike Pence to the nation Saturday, hailing the IN governor as his “first choice” and “my partner IN the campaign”.
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Trump said that Pence would help him fix America’s “rigged system”.
Donald Trump formally announced Mike Pence as his Vice President pick Saturday in a messy event following a drama-filled rollout of the selection.
Donald Trump and Mike Pence pulled out of their potentially X-rated new logo. Pence’s demeanor is as calm as Trump’s is fiery and he brings a sense of discipline that aides and advisers hope can bridge that gap.
Once Pence joined the ticket, he strongly backed Trump positions that he’d criticized in the past.
He claimed that while Mr Pence had endorsed Mr Trump’s party rival Ted Cruz in Indiana’s primary, the governor also praised Mr Trump as he did so.
But while Trump says Pence’s selection was partially driven by a desire to promote “party unity”, Trump took a moment to attack the so-called “Never Trump” delegates attending next week’s Republican National Convention.
“I think when we elect one of the best negotiators in the world as president of the United States, I’m open to renegotiating these trade agreements”, Pence said. But his hard-line ideology is also at odds with Trump, who has largely avoided discussion of social issues.
In an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, Pence downplayed or reversed past differences he has had with Trump.
The Indiana governor has been a longtime advocate of trade deals such as NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, both aggressively opposed by Trump.
He spoke approvingly of Trump’s plan to “temporarily suspend immigration from countries compromised by terrorism”, even though he had expressed distaste in the past for his running mate’s call to temporarily ban Muslim visitors or immigrants.
Pence also said he “absolutely” supported building a wall on the southern border and that “absolutely” Mexico would pay for it. 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.
“This logo is an accurate representation of what running with Trump is doing to Pence’s political career”, NPR’s “Wait Wait …” The event did not feature any new “Trump-Pence” signs, instead displaying the standard “Trump” podium sign. Pence, meanwhile, had faced a Friday deadline to withdraw from his re-election race for governor so he could run for vice president; his aides filed the paperwork about an hour before the cutoff.
Another previous point of discord between the two candidates – the war in Iraq. After speaking for 28 minutes, Trump waved on Pence, saying Pence will “be outstanding in every way”. Trump also pushed back with a tweet: “Look forward to introducing Governor Mike Pence (who has done a spectacular job in the great State of Indiana)”.
“Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is my first choice”.
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The Clinton campaign on Saturday sought to capitalize on the fitful vice presidential roll out, releasing a web video mocking the billionaire for being indecisive despite running a campaign based on his decision-making skills.
