Mike Pence breaks ranks, will not back Donald Trump in election

"It should surprise no one that I will not support Donald Trump this year," said Mike Pence during an interview on Fox News, highlighting his past as Trump's political partner in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

The former vice president is now the most prominent Republican to decide against backing the party's nominee for the November elections. Pence has previously criticized Trump for his actions following the 2020 elections, notably for pressuring him to violate the constitution by refusing to certify the election results. This controversy stirred anger among some participants of the January 6, 2021 Capitol storm, with a few even calling for the then vice president to be hanged.

Pence, who once considered running for the Republican nomination this year but later withdrew due to poor ratings, clarified that his decision not to support Trump stems from several issues. These include the increase in national debt, unclear positions on abortion restrictions, and opposition to the TikTok ban. "In each of these issues, Donald Trump is pursuing and expressing an agenda that contradicts the conservative agenda we followed during our four years," Pence stated.

So far, Trump's candidacy has received endorsements from most major Republican politicians, including Senate party leader Mitch McConnell, despite previous sharp disagreements. Notably, his main rival in the primaries, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, has withheld her endorsement. Other prominent Republicans such as Senator Mitt Romney, and former Trump administration officials like former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, former national security advisor John Bolton, and former White House Chief of Staff Gen. John Kelly, have also declined to support Trump.